At a glance
- Key
- C Major
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Main progression
- I–IV–ii–V–I–IV–ii–V
- Chords used
- C · F · Dm · G · Em · D · A
Summary
Written by Smokey Robinson, 'My Girl' is the definitive masterpiece of the Motown era, blending lush orchestral strings with soulful vocal harmonies. It served as The Temptations' breakout number-one hit and remains one of the most recognizable love songs in music history.
Chord Sheet
Chords Used
Progression by Section
Bridge
Chorus
Verse
Chord Diagrams
Musical Analysis
The harmony of 'My Girl' is a masterclass in Motown soul. It relies on a simple but effective I-IV alternating structure in the verses to create a relaxed, 'sunny' feel. The sophistication lies in the arrangement: the bassline provides the melodic and harmonic…
History
Smokey Robinson wrote the song while on the Motortown Revue tour. After hearing David Ruffin perform with the group, Robinson decided to write a song specifically to showcase Ruffin's 'mellow yet gruff' voice, moving him to the lead vocal position for the firs…
“The iconic opening guitar riff was created and played by Robert White of the Funk Brothers.”
Full musical analysis
The harmony of 'My Girl' is a masterclass in Motown soul. It relies on a simple but effective I-IV alternating structure in the verses to create a relaxed, 'sunny' feel. The sophistication lies in the arrangement: the bassline provides the melodic and harmonic foundation, while the brass and strings thicken the texture. The modulation at the end (the 'Truck Driver's Gear Shift') is a quintessential 1960s pop technique used to heighten emotional intensity and energy for the climax.
Smokey Robinson wrote the song while on the Motortown Revue tour. After hearing David Ruffin perform with the group, Robinson decided to write a song specifically to showcase Ruffin's 'mellow yet gruff' voice, moving him to the lead vocal position for the first time over Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams.
Written by Smokey Robinson, 'My Girl' is the definitive masterpiece of the Motown era, blending lush orchestral strings with soulful vocal harmonies. It served as The Temptations' breakout number-one hit and remains one of the most recognizable love songs in music history.
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Song DNA
Genre
R&B
Era
60s
Mood
Uplifting
Tempo
Mid-tempo
Key
Major
Texture
Layered
Sound
Vocal-focused
Feel
Groovy
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Statistics
9.3M
Plays
1.5M
Listeners
660K
Genius Views
7
Annotations
100%
Popularity
2:43
Duration
4/4
Time
Credits
Written by
Produced by
From the album The Temptations Sing Smokey
Compilations
- Ready Steady Go! The Number One Sixties Album, Volume II1998
- The Soul Monty1999
- The Hits Album: The Classic Soul Album2022