Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers
Key: Am · 161 BPM · 3/4
Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers sits in Am, giving it a darker, more unresolved color than a major-key song would have. Rather than one of the handful of progressions that show up again and again across pop and rock, it settles into its own 2-chord loop — Am-Em — repeating with its own internal logic instead of borrowing a familiar shape. At 161 BPM, it moves at a fast, high-energy pace, in waltz time.
The progression
This song cycles a 2-chord progression in Am: Am-Em. Chords are automatically detected — if something looks off, let us know.
Play it in other keys
| Capo | Shape key | Chords to play |
|---|---|---|
| No capo | Am | Am-Em |
| Capo 5 | Em | Em-Bm |
| Capo 7 | Dm | Dm-Am |
Chord chart
- 0:00 Am
- 0:15 Em7
- 0:18 Dm7
- 0:21 Am7
- 0:26 Am
- 0:29 Em
- 0:30 Am
- 0:35 Em7
- 0:37 Am
- 0:40 Em7
- 0:43 Dm7
- 0:45 G
- 0:46 Am7
- 0:48 Em
- 0:49 Am7
- 0:55 Am
- 1:09 Am7
- 1:12 Em
- 1:13 Am7
- 1:17 Em
- 1:19 Am
- 1:23 Em
- 1:25 Am
- 1:28 Em7
- 1:31 Dm7
- 1:33 G
- 1:34 Am7
- 1:36 Em7
- 1:36 G
- 1:37 Am7
- 1:42 Em7
- 1:43 Am
- 1:46 Am7
- 1:48 Em7
- 1:49 Am7
- 1:54 Em7
- 1:54 G
- 1:55 Am7
Frequently asked questions
What key is Ain't No Sunshine in?
Ain't No Sunshine is in Am.
What chords does Ain't No Sunshine use?
The core of Ain't No Sunshine cycles through Am, Em (2 chords).
What is the tempo of Ain't No Sunshine?
Ain't No Sunshine runs at 161 BPM in 3/4 time.
What chord progression does Ain't No Sunshine use?
Ain't No Sunshine doesn't follow one of the common named progressions — it cycles its own 2-chord loop: Am-Em.
What capo should I use for Ain't No Sunshine?
No capo needed — Am already sits in standard open-chord shapes.