The Air That I Breathe chords

The Hollies

Song Key: B Major

Time Signature: 4/4

Tempo: 84 bpm


Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e

Skill Level: Beginner 🟢

Guitar Chords in G Major: G, B7, C, Cm, D, Dm

Capo: 4th fret (to play with the video in B Major)

Arrangement Song Details
Play-Along Video
R-H Chord Charts Chord Chart Legend
G Major B7 C Major Cm Cm barre chord D Major Dm
L-H Chord Charts Lefties Chord Chart Legend
C Major-LH G Major-LH B7-LHCm-LH Cm barre chord-LH D Major-LH Dm-LH
Speed: x0.1

The Air That I Breathe

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key 
                G         F         G      F       C
Intro: 4/4 ‖         |         |         |   /  /    ‖

   G                       B7
1. If I could make a wish    I think Id pass
 C                Cm           G
   Can't think of a-ny-thing I need |  %  | 
   G                             B7
   No ci-ga-rettes, no sleep, no light, no sound
 C             Cm               G 
   No-thing to eat, no books to read

   Bm                                    Cm                   G 
** Mak-ing love with you     Has left me peace-ful, warm, and tired
   Bm                                    Cm                G 
** What more could I ask     Theres noth-ing left to be de-sired

        G                          B7
Bridge: Peace came up-on me and it leaves me weak
       C                  Cm            G
        So sleep, si-lent an-gel, go to sleep |  %  | 

        G
Chorus: Some-times...
                          D                            G
        All I need is the air that I breathe    And to love you
                          D                            G
        All I need is the air that I breathe    Yes to love you
                          D
        All I need is the air that I breathe...

           Dm       C       G       D       Dm      C       G       D
Instr: ‖        |       |       |       |       |       |       |       ‖

        G                          B7
Bridge: Peace came up-on me and it leaves me weak
           C              Cm            G
        So sleep, si-lent an-gel, go to sleep |  %  | 

        G
Chorus: Some-times...
                          D                            G
        All I need is the air that I breathe    And to love you
                          D                            G
        All I need is the air that I breathe    Yes to love you
                          D
        All I need is the air that I breathe

            Dm       C       G       D
Instr: ‖        |       |       |       ‖
 
        G
Chorus: Some-times...
                          D                            G
        All I need is the air that I breathe    And to love you
                          D                            G
        All I need is the air that I breathe    Yes to love you
                          D                            G
        All I need is the air that I breathe    And to love you
                          D                            G
        All I need is the air that I breathe    Yes to love you...

Arrangement Details:

  • Key Signature: B Major - 5 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#)
  • Chords in B Major: B, D#7, E, Em, F#, F#m
  • Time Signature: 4/4 — Four quarter-note beats per measure
  • Tempo: Moderately slow
  • Metronome: ♩ = 84
  • Voice Range: E4 - A5
  • Beginners: Cm may be foreign to some of you, but is very easy once you get used to it.

    This shape works a lot like a barre chord in that every fret you move upwards or downwards changes the chord by one semitone. This is because the top 4 strings are covered, keeping consistency on every string with every chord change.

    If you start the chord shape on the 1st fret, you are playing Bbm:
    On the 2nd fret - Bm
    On the 3rd fret - Cm
    On the 4th fret C#m etc.
  • These chords are commonly used, and are very handy to know, especially if you are unable to play barre chords.

Song Details:

Hollies Album Cover
Album Cover
  • Songwriters: Albert Hammond, Michael Hazelwood
  • Lyrics Begin: If I could make a wish I think I'd pass; can't think of anything I need.
  • Genre: Rock, Pop
  • Featured Artists: The Hollies
  • Single:
    Recorded: 15 & 22 November 1973
    Released: January 1974 (UK), March 1974 (US)
    B-side: No More Riders
  • Album: Hollies
    Recorded: 7 August – 17 December, 1973
    Released: March 1974

Notable Covers:

  • The Hollies (1974) – The most well-known version, reaching #2 in the UK and #6 in the US.
  • Cilla Black (1974) – A version released on her album, In my Life.
  • Olivia Newton-John (1975) – A soft rock version included on her Have You Never Been Mellow album.
  • José Feliciano (1976) – A Spanish-infused version on his album Sweet Soul Music.
  • Julio Iglesias (1984) – from his album 1100 Bel Air Place
  • K.D. Lang (1997) – Included on her album Drag, her version is known for its haunting and atmospheric quality.
  • Simply Red (1998) – Released on their Blue album, this version gave the song a soulful, smooth feel.
  • The Mavericks (2003) – Their rendition on their self-titled album added a country flavor to the song.
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