Be Without You artwork

Be Without You

Mary J. Blige

KeyD minor
Tempo146 BPM
Duration4:08

Rhodes melody, piano & acoustic guitar.

Song map

INTROClick a line to play from there
SONG NOTES

Questions about this song

Answers from our automatic transcription. Key, tempo and chord labels may contain errors.

What key is Be Without You by Mary J. Blige in?

This transcription starts in D minor.

What tempo is Be Without You?

The estimated tempo is 146 BPM, calculated from the median spacing between detected beats. This is a summary of the transcription; timing can vary during the song.

What are the main chord progressions in Be Without You?

Recurring four-chord sequences in this transcription include Dm → Gm7 → C → A7 (15 occurrences); C → Cmaj/5 → A7 → Dm (12 occurrences); Cmaj/5 → A7 → Dm → Gm7 (12 occurrences). These are exact chord-label matches within sections, not a complete harmonic analysis.

What are the relative chords in Be Without You?

Here are a few patterns to play with: i → iv7 → VII → V7 in D minor; VII → VII/5 → V7 → i in D minor; VII/5 → V7 → i → iv7 in D minor. Think of Roman numerals as chord names you can take into any key. Uppercase is major, lowercase is minor; in minor keys, we count from the natural-minor scale.

Does Be Without You use a well-known chord progression?

Yes! In D minor: The Royal Road progression (i → VI → VII → v) shows up in the chorus at 3:48 and 4:01. A bittersweet J-pop favorite that keeps moving without landing on the major home chord. The Aeolian cadence (VI → VII → i) shows up in the intro at 0:07 and 0:20. Two rising major chords lead back into minor, balancing a little lift with a darker landing.

What time signature is Be Without You in?

The transcription starts in 4/4.

How is Be Without You structured?

The detected sections are intro (0:00) → verse (0:31) → chorus (0:58) → verse (1:24) → chorus (1:50) → bridge (2:16) → chorus (2:55).

How long is this version of Be Without You?

The transcribed version lasts 4:08. Other recordings or edits may have a different duration.

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