Super Freak Part One by Rick James
Super Freak Part One by Rick James in 4/4 and is in the key of A minor. It is built on 5 chords — Am, G, F, Am7, A. Released in 1981.
✓ Key sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected. See how we verify →
What to watch for
At least one shape here is a full barre — one finger pressing all six strings, no open strings to lean on. Fret it unplugged first; if a string buzzes, it's the barre, not the chord. Listen for the 7th in these chords — it's the note doing most of the harmonic pull, and it's the first thing that disappears if you fret only the plain triad underneath it.
Learn the theory
Play it on a live fretboard
Every shape, every voicing, and the scale that fits over them — on a board you can hear. Then just talk to it: Melody Monkey's personal music teacher controls the fretboard, so ask for a chord, a scale, a progression, or why any of it works, and watch it land under your fingers. Free to start.
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Frequently asked questions
What key is Super Freak Part One in?
Super Freak Part One is in A minor, sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected.
What chords does Super Freak Part One use?
Super Freak Part One is built on 5 chords: Am, G, F, Am7, A.
Does Super Freak Part One need barre chords?
Yes — at least one shape is a full barre (one finger across all six strings). Everything else on the page is a standard open shape.