Carole King - You've Got A Friend
Hello! Below you'll find my "You've Got A Friend" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This classic song by Carole King features some incredible piano playing, and some of it is quite difficult. In the video, I first teach a simplified version, and then I go over all the fancy fills and decorations to add in if you choose.
Enjoy!
You've Got A Friend Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for You've Got A Friend:
You've Got A Friend Chords & Lyrics
[Intro]
| Ab | Db/Ab | Db/Ab Ab | Gm7 C7 |
| Ab | Db/Ab | Db/Ab Ab | Gm7 C7 |
[Verse 1]
Fm C7
When you're down and troubled
Fm C7/G Fm/Ab
And you need some love and care
Bbm7 Eb7 Ab
And nothing, nothing is going right
Gm7 C7
Close your eyes and think of me
Bbm7 Eb7 Ab
And nothing, nothing is going right
Gm7 C7
Close your eyes and think of me
Fm C7/G Fm/Ab
And soon I will be there
Bbm7 Cm7 Eb7sus4 Eb Eb7sus4
To brighten up even your darkest nights
Bbm7 Cm7 Eb7sus4 Eb Eb7sus4
To brighten up even your darkest nights
[Chorus]
Ab
You just call out my name and
Db
You know wherever I am
Ab Eb7sus4 Eb Eb7sus4
I'll come running to see you again
Ab Abmaj9
Winter, spring, summer or fall,
Ab Eb7sus4 Eb Eb7sus4
I'll come running to see you again
Ab Abmaj9
Winter, spring, summer or fall,
Dbmaj7 Fm Ab7/Eb
All you have to do is call
Dbmaj7 Cm7 Bbm7 Eb7sus4
And I'll be there
Dbmaj7 Cm7 Bbm7 Eb7sus4
And I'll be there
(Ab)
You've got a friend
[Interlude]
| Ab | Db/Ab | Db/Ab Ab | Gm7 C7 |
| Ab | Db/Ab | Db/Ab Ab | Gm7 C7 |
[Verse 2]
Fm C7 Fm
If the sky above you, grows dark
C7/G Fm/Ab
And full of clouds
Bbm7 Eb7 Ab
And that old north wind, begins to blow
Gm7 C7
Keep your head together
Bbm7 Eb7 Ab
And that old north wind, begins to blow
Gm7 C7
Keep your head together
Fm C7/G Fm/Ab
And call my name out loud
Bbm7 Cm7
Soon, you'll hear me knocking
Bbm7 Cm7
Soon, you'll hear me knocking
Eb7sus4 Eb Eb7sus4
At your door
[Chorus]
Ab
You just call out my name
You just call out my name
Db
And you know wherever I am
Ab
I'll come running, running, yeah yeah
Ab
I'll come running, running, yeah yeah
Eb7sus4 Eb Eb7sus4
To see you again
Ab Abmaj9
Winter, spring, summer or fall
Ab Abmaj9
Winter, spring, summer or fall
Dbmaj7 Fm Ab7/Eb
All you have to do is call
Dbmaj7 Cm7 Bbm7 Eb7sus4
And I'll be there yes I will
Dbmaj7 Cm7 Bbm7 Eb7sus4
And I'll be there yes I will
[Bridge]
Gb
Now ain't it good to know that
Gb
Now ain't it good to know that
Db
You've got a friend
Ab Abmaj9
When people can be so cold
Db Gb7
They'll hurt you, yes and desert you
Ab Abmaj9
When people can be so cold
Db Gb7
They'll hurt you, yes and desert you
Fm Bb7
And take your soul if you let them
Eb7sus4 Eb7
Oh, but don't you let them
Eb7sus4 Eb7
Oh, but don't you let them
[Chorus]
Ab
You just call out my name and
Ab
You just call out my name and
Db
You know wherever I am
Ab
I'll come running, running, yeah yeah
Ab
I'll come running, running, yeah yeah
Eb7sus4 Eb Eb7sus4
To see you again
Ab Abmaj9
Winter, spring, summer or fall
Ab Abmaj9
Winter, spring, summer or fall
Dbmaj7 Fm Ab7/Eb
All you have to do is call
Dbmaj7 Cm7 Bbm7 Eb7sus4
And I'll be there yes I will
Dbmaj7 Cm7 Bbm7 Eb7sus4
And I'll be there yes I will
[Outro]
Ab Db/Ab Ab
You've got a friend, you've got a friend
Db/Ab Ab
Ain't it good to know, you've got a friend
Db/Ab Ab
Ain't it good to know, ain't it good to know
Db/Ab Ab
Ain't it good to know, you've got a friend
Db/Ab Ab Db/Ab
Oh yeah now, oh you've got a friend, yeah, baby
Ab Db/Ab Ab
You've got a friend, oh, yeah now you've got a friend
Ab Db/Ab Ab
You've got a friend, you've got a friend
Db/Ab Ab
Ain't it good to know, you've got a friend
Db/Ab Ab
Ain't it good to know, ain't it good to know
Db/Ab Ab
Ain't it good to know, you've got a friend
Db/Ab Ab Db/Ab
Oh yeah now, oh you've got a friend, yeah, baby
Ab Db/Ab Ab
You've got a friend, oh, yeah now you've got a friend
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
You've Got A Friend Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "You've Got A Friend" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "You've Got A Friend" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
