God Only Knows Chords – The Beach Boys

INTRO

G D G D

  G     D/F# Em7
|     |  |     | N.C.*|
                                    D    D E F
                      *bass does: |               |

VERSE 1

C/G              Am
I may not always love you,
Em  Em7               A
But long as there are stars above you,
D/A          Bbdim7
You’ll never need to doubt it,
D/A              Abm7b5
I'll make you so sure about it.

[REFRAIN 1
G        D/F#              Em7         D
God only knows what I'd be without you.

VERSE 2

C/G                Am
If you should ever leave me,
Em     Em7              A
Though life would still go on believe me,
D/A                  Bbdim7
The world could show nothing to me,
D/A                Abm7b5
So what good would living do me.

REFRAIN 2

G        D/F#              Em7         D
God only knows what I'd be without you.

[INSTRUMENTAL l] (Keyboard, Bass & drums, then Scat vocals over)
 F   Dm6 Am Am7 D7
|               | (Aah-aah-aah, Doo-doo-doo)[dual-tracked]
 G/D Ebdim G/D C#m7b5
|              | (Bah-buppa-bah, Bah-buppa-bah)

REFRAIN 3

C/G      G/B               Am7
God only knows what I'd be with-out you.

VERSE 3

C/G                Am
If you should ever leave me,
Em     Em7              A
Though life would still go on believe me,
D/A                  Bbdim7
The world could show nothing to me,
D/A                Abm7b5
So what good would living do me.

[REFRAIN 4] (Repeat x6)
G        D/F#              Em7            D
God only knows what I'd be without you-oo,
G        D/F#              Em7         D
God only knows what I'd be without you,
(God only knows…)
                  (Knows   what   I'd     be..    with out   you)

[CODA] (Fade)
G        D/F#              Em7         D
God only knows what I'd be without you.

End

BACKGROUND:
“Mind of Brian 1: God Only Knows”  http://www.surfermoon.com/essays/mob1.html

NOTES:
1. Since this was TAB'ed I learnt of the existence of 'The Wrecking Crew'.  Their musical contribution is
unmistakable.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVUBpzlELOg; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCTVcNsJGX0
2. My apologies to the UG players, as this TAB had been re-edited without my knowledge.  I have
returned it to a corrected and playable format.  I trust that, you may continue to enjoy it? Ditto #2.
3. "...AllMusic calls the compilation "a fascinating, educational listen, even if it's not
necessarily indispensable."[8] Q gave the "enlightening" box set a perfect score and wrote
that "the backing music tracks sans vocals opens your ears to a bevy of awe-inspiring nuances
previously obscured by singing.  At the same time, the isolated vocal tracks are
nothing less than spiritual in their emotive wallop. ..."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pet_Sounds_Sessions
4.  "...The new mixes created for the box set were made in January–February 1996.
Linett wrote: "In mixing Pet Sounds in stereo, every attempt was made to duplicate the feel and
sound of the original mono mixes. Vocal and instrumental parts that Brian left off the record
in 1966 were noted and duplicated, as were the fades.  To this end, a Scully model 280 4-track
was used to transfer the analog reels to digital multi-tracks – the same model used for
'Pet Sounds'.  The mix was then processed through an original tube console from United Western
Recorders in the 1960's. ..."  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pet_Sounds_Sessions