Song · Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway

You've got a Friend by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway

R&B/Soul1971AdvancedBarre chords7th chords🎸 Interactive

You've got a Friend by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway runs at 172 BPM in 4/4 and is in the key of Ab major. It is built on 6 chords — Ab, Db, Fm, C7, Bbm7, Eb7. Released in 1971.

✓ Key sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected. See how we verify →

You've got a Friend — Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
Tempo 172 or 86 half-time
Key Ab major verified
Time 4/4 signature
Length 3:23 runtime
Released 1971 R&B/Soul
Chords 6 shapes below
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🎚 Tuning: This recording sits about 27 cents sharp of concert pitch (A=446.9Hz, not 440Hz). Tune to the track or you'll fight it the whole way.
🎸 Tap a chord to hear it Every shape in this song, on a real fretboard.

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.

Practice at the right tempo

This song sits at 172 BPM. Start at 60% until the changes are clean — speed is a by-product of accuracy, not a goal.

🥁 Metronome 172 BPM · 100%

Learn the theory

Music TheoryThe Major Scale Music TheoryMajor 7, Minor 7 & Dominant 7

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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Keep playing

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The 5th DimensionNever My LoveG major · 163 BPM Graham NashChicagoA minor · 82 BPM Jimi HendrixFreedomC · 117 BPM Five Man Electrical BandAbsolutely RightA major Rolling StonesWild HorsesG major · 154 BPM Rod StewartMaggie MayD major · 129 BPM

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Ronnie MilsapI wouldn't Have Missed it For The WorldG major · 119 BPM Stevie BBecause I Love YouDb major · 126 BPM The Box TopsCry Like A BabyD major · 132 BPM Brenda LeeAll Alone Am IF major · 99 BPM

Frequently asked questions

What key is You've got a Friend in?

You've got a Friend is in Ab major, sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected.

What tempo is You've got a Friend?

You've got a Friend runs at 172 BPM (or 86 half-time).

What chords does You've got a Friend use?

You've got a Friend is built on 6 chords: Ab, Db, Fm, C7, Bbm7, Eb7.

Does You've got a Friend 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.

What tuning is You've got a Friend in?

This recording sits about 27 cents sharp of concert pitch (A=446.9Hz, not 440Hz). Tune to the track or you'll fight it the whole way.