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Intermediate acoustic guitar tabs for "When I Need You" by Rod Stewart, in D♭ major at about 115 BPM. Transcribed from the track by Songscription. Available as an easy beginner, intermediate, or advanced arrangement.

Intermediate Acoustic Guitar Tabs for "When I Need You" by Rod Stewart

Preview of the intermediate acoustic guitar tab arrangement for “When I Need You” by Rod Stewart.

When I Need You
Acoustic Guitar Tabs

Tab notationFretboard tab

The acoustic guitar part reads as a fretboard tab, arranged to sit naturally for the instrument.

Difficulty

Intermediate

For players comfortable with the basics.

Inside the music
Signature

Music DNA

Genrerock · pop · blues
Moodromantic · longing · hopeful
Signatureclassic rock ballad with a bluesy pop sensibility
D♭ major
Key
115
BPM
3/4
Time
Chords

The progression

C♯
Bmaj7
B♭m
A
A♭
F♯
A♭maj/3
Adim7
Form

Structure & dynamics

IntroVersePre-chorusChorusVersePre-chorusChorusBridgeChorusOutro
Instrumentation

What's in the mix

bass guitar
warm, round, syncopated bassline driving the groove
electric guitar
clean, melodic lead lines and gentle chordal support
drums
steady, laid-back 4/4 beat with a soft snare and brushed hi-hats
acoustic guitar
soft, fingerpicked arpeggios that add warmth
piano
rich, sustained chords and occasional melodic fills
strings
lush, sweeping pads that fill the stereo field
Album & artist
ALBUM

If We Fall in Love Tonight (1996)

A compilation-style release on Warner Bros. Records, it draws mostly from previously released recordings and was issued in slightly different versions in the UK and the US. It produced the singles 'If We Fall in Love Tonight' and 'When I Need You'.

All of If We Fall in Love Tonight
Artist

Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart is a rock and soul singer from London, born in 1945, whose raspy voice became one of the most recognizable in British pop. He came up through the Faces before building a long solo career that stretched from raw blues-influenced rock in the early 1970s to polished pop and adult contemporary work in later decades. Over more than fifty years he has mixed original material with well-chosen covers, picking up hits across multiple eras.

All Rod Stewart songs
How it works

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  1. Step 1
    Bring the recording

    Paste a YouTube link or upload an audio file, the studio cut, a live take, or a cover.

  2. Step 2
    We transcribe it

    Our model listens and arranges this exact performance for acoustic guitar, at your chosen level.

  3. Step 3
    Play & export

    Read it on screen, transpose, slow it down, and export the tabs when it feels right.

Ready to play it?

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FAQ

Good to know

What key is "When I Need You" in?

"When I Need You" by Rod Stewart is in D♭ major.

What is the tempo of "When I Need You"?

"When I Need You" plays at around 115 BPM in 3/4 time.

What chords are in "When I Need You"?

The core progression is C♯, Bmaj7, B♭m, A, A♭, and F♯, built around the D♭ major tonal center.

What instruments play on "When I Need You"?

The recording features electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drums, piano, and strings.

Can I get "When I Need You" acoustic guitar tabs?

Yes. This is the intermediate acoustic guitar tabs arrangement of "When I Need You" by Rod Stewart, transcribed by Songscription.

Is "When I Need You" acoustic guitar tabs easy to play?

"When I Need You" acoustic guitar tabs comes in beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, so there is an easy version to start with. At 115 BPM in D♭ major with 33 chords to navigate, the part sits at a comfortable intermediate level. You can switch levels on this page before you save it.

Is there an easy, beginner version of "When I Need You" acoustic guitar tabs?

Yes. The beginner acoustic guitar tabs for "When I Need You" simplifies the busiest passages and rhythms while keeping the melody, so it is the easiest way to start. The intermediate and advanced arrangements are one tap away when you want more of the original.

What album is "When I Need You" on?

"When I Need You" appears on If We Fall in Love Tonight (1996).

How does Songscription turn a song into sheet music?

Give it a recording, a YouTube link or an audio file, and its AI transcribes that performance into notation for the instrument and level you choose.

Can I get sheet music for a live or cover version?

Yes. The score is generated from whatever recording you pick, so a live take, a remix, or a cover each match that exact performance.

What instruments and formats are available?

Piano, guitar, violin, trumpet, sax, bass, drums, vocals and more, as standard sheet music, a piano roll, or guitar tabs.

Is Songscription free to use?

You can try it free, with no credit card needed.

Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?

Yes. You get a downloadable PDF, plus in-app playback and the option to transpose or adjust the arrangement before you print.

How accurate is the transcription?

It is produced by AI trained on millions of bars of music, and you can play it back and fine-tune any details before you download.

Is this transcription licensed?

Yes. We have licensed this track from its publisher, so we are permitted to transcribe it and provide the sheet music to you.

Transcribed from licensed catalogs by AI trained on millions of bars of music.

Made with in California.