U2 – With Or Without You Chords & Guitar Lesson

Years ago, I was playing a wedding gig, and the husband and wife wanted this song for their first dance.

It was quite strange.

I’d wondered if they’d ever read the lyrics… 

But below, I’m going to share with you some insider tips on the guitar style behind it.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this “With Or Without You” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote With Or Without You?

“With or Without You” was originally written by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., the 4 members of the Irish rock band U2. 

It was released in 1987 as the lead single from their fifth studio album, The Joshua Tree. The song lyrically emphasizes tension and contradiction often found in relationships.  

“With Or Without You” was recorded at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin with Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno producing. The song has a very atmospheric sound between the layered sounds and guitar textures that The Edge created. The recording process involved a lot of experimentation, and the band reportedly struggled for months to get the right emotional tone, with multiple attempts to capture the song’s mood before settling on the final version. 

“With or Without You” became one of U2’s most iconic songs and is widely regarded as a classic of the ‘80s. It was the band’s first number-one single in both the United States and Canada and charted highly worldwide. 

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for With Or Without You?

The tuning for "With Or Without You” is standard tuning. The Edge kept things simple. 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 “With Or Without You,” let’s next talk about…

With Or Without You Chords

To play “With Or Without You”, you only need to know 4 main chords they are D, A, Bm, and G. These chords are a blend of open position and 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/7mistakes

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

D is played in a standard (campfire) position from the 4th string down like this:

A is played from the 5th string down like this:

Bm is a bar chord played in 2nd position like this:

Bm can also be played as an open position shape using this Bm7:

Finally, G is played using all 6 strings 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 With Or Without You hard to play on guitar?

I would say playing “With Or Without You” on guitar is going to require a beginner skill level. It only uses 4 chords, and the rhythm can remain the same throughout, so it’s a perfect song for newer players. Just make sure to take it slow and get the chord changes clean and on the beat. 

What key is With Or Without You in?

“With Or Without You”, as recorded by U2, is in the key of D major. The primary scale would be the D major scale, which is built using the notes D, E, F#, G, A, B, and C#.

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

D (D major)

Notes: D, F#, A

Function: This is the I chord, the tonic. It’s home base in the key of D major. Everything in the progression ultimately wants to resolve back here.

A (A major)

Notes: A, C#, E

Function: This is the V chord (dominant) in D major. The dominant wants to pull strongly back to the tonic D because of the leading tone C#. Or it can also go to the vi chord, which is what we have next…

Bm (B minor)

Notes: B, D, F#

Function: This is the vi chord (relative minor). It has two notes in common with the tonic (D and F#), so it blends smoothly with the key. B minor adds emotion and depth without leaving the key. 

G (G major)

Notes: G, B, D

Function: This is the IV chord (subdominant). G gives you a sense of movement away from the tonic. In classic progressions like I–V–vi–IV or I–IV–V, this G chord helps move the harmony forward in a natural way. The shared note (D) keeps it closely tied to the key.

Together, these chords form some of the most common sets of chords in modern music. There are millions of songs that use them…

All right!

That’s my theory breakdown.  

Next, let’s look at… 

What is the strumming pattern for With Or Without You?

The main underlying groove for “With Or Without You” is a driving 8th-note rock feel. In 4/4 time, 8th notes divide each beat into two equal parts, creating a steady rhythm like this:

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

The numbers (1, 2, 3, 4) represent the main beats in the measure, while the "&" represents the offbeats that add energy and momentum.

When counted out loud, it sounds like:

"One-and, Two-and, Three-and, Four-and." 

This gives a strong and consistent forward motion to the tune. Here’s an example of a strumming pattern in the style of “With Or Without You”:

Conclusion

Bottom line, “With Or Without You” is a simple yet powerful song. From the driving 8th notes to the atmospheric guitars laid down by The Edge, it’s a perfect song to play in a cover band or down at a local lounge. 

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs way faster, better understand the fretboard for lead and rhythm, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide here right now: 

Jon MacLennan