The ULTIMATE – “I Put A Spell On You” Chords & Guitar Lesson

Here’s a song that was originally banned from the radio.

Yet it’s gone on to be recorded by many famous artists.  

In this post, I’m going to share some insider tips on the bluesy guitar style behind.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “I Put A Spell On You” chords and guitar lesson!

Who wrote I Put A Spell On You?

“I Put a Spell on You” was originally written and recorded by Screamin' Jay Hawkins in 1956. The song is a dramatic 16-bar blues set to a rolling triplet feel. It sings of an obsessive lover who is telling the object of his affection that he’s placing a spell on them to keep them close. 

The story behind the song is as fascinating as its sound. Hawkins originally intended it as a straight rhythm and blues ballad, but when he recorded it in New York at RCA Victor’s studio, he delivered it with an over-the-top, almost horror-show performance. According to accounts, he arrived at the session heavily intoxicated, and his singing was wild, even screaming and growling at times. Producer Arnold Maxin saw something in it and encouraged Hawkins to lean into this vibe theatrically.  

The result was a raw and almost primal performance.

Because of its intensity, the song was initially banned on some radio stations. However, it quickly gained notoriety and became a cult hit. 

As mentioned above, over the years, “I Put a Spell on You” has been covered by countless artists across genres, including Nina Simone, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Annie Lennox, and Marilyn Manson. 

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for I Put A Spell On You?

The tuning for "I Put A Spell On You” as recorded by Screamin' Jay Hawkins is standard tuning. Standard tuning is spelled: E, A, D, G, B, and E. 

Here are the strings:

• E (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch)

All right! 

Now that you know the tuning for “I Put A Spell On You,” let’s next talk about…

I Put A Spell On You Chords

To play “I Put A Spell On You”, as recorded by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, you only need to know 4 main chords they are Fm, Bbm, C7, and Gb. These are a mix of bar and non-bar chords.  

If bar chords are giving you all kinds of aches and pains, and you haven’t yet discovered how to play them effortlessly, go here: https://www.jonmaclennan.com/barchords

Let’s take a look at a few ways these shapes might show up on the fretboard. 

Fm is a bar chord played in 1st position and uses all 6 strings like this:

Bbm is another bar chord, but this time has a root on the 5th string, like so:

C7 is similar to a (campfire) position C chord. However, add the pinky on the 3rd fret of the 3rd string like this:

Finally, we have Gb, which is played in 2nd position like this:

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard for RHYTHM and LEAD guitar, and want to discover the easiest and fastest way. Then get your hands on my free Fretboard Guide PDF right here now:  

Is I Put A Spell On You hard to play on guitar?

I would say playing “I Put A Spell On You” on guitar, as recorded by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, is going to require at least an intermediate skill level. The trickiest parts are the 12/8 feel, the bar chords, and the feeling of the music. It’s only a couple of chords, but getting it right is no easy feat. So, take your time with this one.

What key is I Put A Spell On You in?

“I Put A Spell On You”, as recorded by Screamin' Jay Hawkins. is in the key of F minor. The primary scale for the song would be the F minor scale, which is built using the notes F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, and Eb. 

Let’s take a closer look at how these chords relate in the key of F minor. Starting with…

Fm

Notes: F, Ab, C

Function: This is the i chord, the tonic of F minor. It’s the “home” chord, and all other chords relate back to it.

Bbm

Notes: Bb, Db, F

Function: Bbm is the iv chord in F minor. As the subdominant minor, it can give the listener a lift away from the tonic while still staying in the key. It’s often goes up to the V chord or back to i.

C7

Notes: C, E, G, Bb

Function: C7 is the V7 chord in F minor, the dominant with a minor seventh added. The E natural in C7 functions as the leading tone toward F, creating strong tension that wants to resolve back to the tonic Fm.

Gb

Notes: Gb, Bb, Db

Function: Gb is not in the diatonic scale of F minor. It’s a tritone substitute for the V7 chord. A tritone substitute is a chord used very commonly in jazz to replace a dominant seventh chord (V7) with another dominant chord that is a tritone (three whole steps) away. The idea comes from the fact that dominant seventh chords have a strong tendency to resolve to their tonic, and the key notes that create that tension—the third and seventh—are often shared in both chords.

Taken together, these chords create a beautiful sound that fits the song.

All right!

That’s my theory breakdown. 

Next, let’s look at…

What is the strumming pattern for I Put A Spell On You?

The main underlying feel for “I Put A Spell On You” is a rolling triplet feel. I count it in a 12/8 time signature. There are twelve 8th notes per measure like this: 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

A great way to strum is every 3 beats like this: 

>       >       >        >            

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 

Here’s an example of a strumming pattern in the style of “I Put A Spell On You” :

I Put A Spell On You -- Creedence Clearwater Revival Guitar Lesson

Conclusion

To wrap it up, whether you are playing Screamin' Jay Hawkins’ version, Creedence’s, or another, this song is a haunting bluesy vibe. 

Keep practicing, and if you want to get better at this bluesy style, then grab my FREE blues scale PDF guide here right now: