Ain't No Sunshine — Sprint 1 Anchor Song Analysis

Bill Withers, 1971  ·  Key: A minor  ·  Chords: Am, Em, G
AMF · S1

1 — Chord Map

Used in: S3 Song Work · S5 Synthesizer
1
Am
Root: A
A · C · E
2
Am
Root: A
A · C · E
3
Am
Root: A
A · C · E
4
Am
Root: A
A · C · E
5
Am
Root: A
A · C · E
6
Am
Root: A
A · C · E
7
Em
Root: E
E · G · B
8
Em
Root: E
E · G · B
9
G
Root: G
G · B · D
10
G
Root: G
G · B · D
11
Am
Root: A
A · C · E
12
Am
Root: A
A · C · E
13
Am
Root: A
A · C · E
14
Am
Root: A
A · C · E
15
Em
Root: E
E · G · B
16
G
Root: G
G · B · D
Am — dark purple
Em — medium purple
G — light purple
Sprint 1 simplified form · repeat from bar 1

2 — Root Movements

Di-chord brackets · own by Sprint
Am → Em
[5]
Perfect 4th
A down to E (descending)
Own in Sprint 2 ★
Em → G
[3]
Minor 3rd
E up to G (ascending)
Own in Sprint 5 ★
G → Am
[2]
Major 2nd
G up to A (ascending)
Own in Sprint 4 ★

3 — Zone 1 Melody Notes

Bill Withers stays in chord tones — the reason this song is Sprint 1
Chord Root 3rd 5th Melody stays in…
Am A [1] C [3] minor 3rd E [7] perfect 5th Zone 1 — chord tones only
Em E [1] G [3] minor 3rd B [7] perfect 5th Zone 1 — chord tones only
G G [1] B [4] major 3rd D [7] perfect 5th Zone 1 — chord tones only
Interval tags: [1]=root, [3]=minor 3rd, [4]=major 3rd, [7]=perfect 5th — using AMF interval numbers from root

4 — Rhythm Grid

8-position grid per bar · write syllables or strums in empty boxes
Basic Verse Feel
1
+
2
+
3
+
4
+
▼ 1
+
▼ 2
+
▼ 3
+
▼ 4
+
Positions 1, 2, 3, 4 active · steady quarter-note groove
Stop-Time Feel  ("I know × 26")
1
+
2
+
3
+
4
+
▼ 1
+
2
+
3
+
4
+
Position 1 ONLY · all other positions: silence
Dashed boxes = silence / space · Write your own rhythms in the empty boxes during practice

5 — Practice Log

Fill in during / after each practice session
Date Section (S3 / S5 / free) What I noticed Stage  (1 / 2 / 3)
__ / __ / ____
__ / __ / ____
__ / __ / ____
__ / __ / ____
__ / __ / ____