Is Free Chord Book really free?

Yes. Free Chord Book is 100% free with no sign-up required. Access 670,000+ guitar chords, tabs, and lyrics for every song you want to learn.

How do I transpose chords to a different key?

Open any song and use the transpose buttons to move every chord up or down by half-steps. Perfect for singers who need a different key or capo players.

Can I see chord diagrams while I play?

Yes. Tap any chord in a song to instantly see its interactive guitar chord diagram, including alternate fingerings and variations.

What's the difference between guitar chords and guitar tabs?

Chords show you which strings to strum together (great for rhythm playing and singing). Tabs (tablature) show you exact note-by-note fingerings, which is great for solos, riffs, and fingerpicking.

Does Free Chord Book work on mobile?

Yes. Free Chord Book is fully responsive and works on phones, tablets, and desktops. Use auto-scroll to play hands-free. There is also a free iPhone app (The Chord Book) and Android app (Free Chords).

Is there an iPhone or Android app?

Yes. Download The Chord Book on the Apple App Store and Free Chords on Google Play. Same 670,000+ songs, transpose, tuner, and auto-scroll — 100% free.

Can I print guitar chords?

Yes. Open any song and tap the Print button next to Save. You'll get a branded chord sheet with the Chord Book logo, ready for practice.

Is there a built-in guitar tuner?

Yes. Free Chord Book includes a free online guitar tuner that uses your microphone and YIN pitch detection for accurate tuning in standard and alternate tunings.

How many songs are available?

Over 670,000 songs with chords, tabs, and lyrics — covering every genre, from rock and pop to country, indie, folk, and Hebrew songs.

Is Free Chord Book a good alternative to Ultimate Guitar?

Yes. Free Chord Book is a fast, ad-free, 100% free alternative to Ultimate Guitar with interactive chord diagrams, instant transpose, auto-scroll, and a built-in tuner — no account required.

SavedFavorites

Better Off Without A Wife

Chords

4.561 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Font15

KeyOriginal

Chords

Scroll

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

BETTER OFF WITHOUT A WIFE (Tom Waits)
========================
-- comp. Tom Waits (from _Nighthawks_at_the_Diner_)
  -- "transcr." tcg, 198?
  -- 4/4 // Key of G // Andante (pretty slow)
  -- each chord symbol OR slash = 1 beat
 "Odd" Voicings--
         D7sus4xxo___        D7sus4/G__o___        _C/G_____        D7/F#__o___
       1 ||||1|      1 ||||1|      1 ||||1|      1 ||||1|
         |||2||        |||2||        ||2|||        2x|3|4
         |||||3        3x|||4        3x|||4        ||||||
 INTRO:  1     2        3        4  |  1       2        3        4
                                    |
              G/         D7sus4/G/  |         G/         D7sus4/G/
                                    |
            G      D7/F#          Em7/  |       Am7/               D7/
VERSE 1:
          G/              D7sus4/
  All my friends are married--
                G/            D7sus4/
  Ev'ry Tom and Dick and Harry--
                       G       D7/F#      Em7/          Am7/          D7/
  You must be strong if you're to go     it alone--
                         G/         D7sus4/
  Here's to the bachelors and the Bow'ry bums--
            G/              D7sus4/
  Those who feel that they're the ones that are
        G        Em     Am7      D7     G    C/G    G/
  Better off without    a   wife--
CHORUS:
                    C/                   D7/
  I been sleepin' until the crack of noon--
          G     D7/F#           Em/
  Midnight howlin' at the moon-- and I been
       Am7/                D7/
  Goin'  out when I want to,    (and I'm)
         G/                 G7/
  Comin' home when I please--
              C/              D7/
  Don't have to ask permission
            G      D7/F#          Em/
  If I wanna go  out fishin'--
      Am7/      /    /         D7sus4/      D7/
  Never have to ask for the keys--
VERSE 2:
                G/           D7sus4/
  Well, I never been no Valentino--
              G/               D7sus4/
  But I had a girl who lived in Reno--
         G    D7/F#        Em7/                 Am7/              D7/
  Left me for a trumpet player, but it didn't get me down--
                G/       D7sus4/
  He was wanted for assault,    and though he
          G/                   D7sus4/
  Said it weren't his fault--
                      G         Em       Am7      D7     G    C/G    G/
  You know the coppers rode him right outa    town--
CHORUS:
                    C/                   D7/
  I been sleepin' until the crack of noon--
          G     D7/F#           Em/
  Midnight howlin' at the moon-- and I been
       Am7/                D7/
  Goin'  out when I want to,    (and I'm)
         G/                 G7/
  Comin' home when I please--
              C/              D7/
  Don't have to ask permission
            G      D7/F#          Em/
  If I wanna go  out fishin'--
      Am7/      /    /         D7sus4/      D7/
  Never have to ask for the keys--
VERSE 3: [_underlined_phrases_are_spoken_, ad-lib style]
                    G/        D7sus4/               G/  D7sus4/
  _Ah,_yu'_see,_I'm_kinda_selfish_about_my privacy_--
               G    D7/F#          Em7/               Am7/
  Now as long as I can be with me, _we_get_along_so_well,_I_can_
                             D7/
          _hardly_believe_it_--
           G/                 D7sus4/
  Love to chew the fat with folks--
                     G/              D7sus4/
  I been list'nin' to all your dirty jokes--
                  G           Em       Am7      D7      G    C/G    G/
  I'm so thankful for these friends I do receive--
CHORUS:
                    C/                   D7/
  I been sleepin' until the crack of noon--
          G     D7/F#           Em/
  Midnight howlin' at the moon-- and I been
       Am7/                D7/
  Goin'  out when I want to,    (and I'm)
         G/                 G7/
  Comin' home when I please--
              C/              D7/
  Don't have to ask permission
            G      D7/F#          Em/
  If I wanna go  out fishin'--
      Am7/      /    /         D7sus4/      D7/
  Never have to ask for the keys--
  [...recording ends (& begins) with some "Here Comes the Bride" piano!]

All chords in this song (11)

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Better Off Without A Wife

by Tom Waits

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

D7sus4

D7sus4/G

C/G

D7/F#

Em7

Am7

BETTER OFF WITHOUT A WIFE (Tom Waits)

========================

-- comp. Tom Waits (from _Nighthawks_at_the_Diner_)

-- "transcr." tcg, 198?

-- 4/4 // Key of G // Andante (pretty slow)

-- each chord symbol OR slash = 1 beat

"Odd" Voicings--

D7sus4 D7sus4/G C/G D7/F#

xxo___ __o___ ______ __o___

1 ||||1| 1 ||||1| 1 ||||1| 1 ||||1|

|||2|| |||2|| ||2||| 2x|3|4

|||||3 3x|||4 3x|||4 ||||||

INTRO: 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4

G D7sus4/G G D7sus4/G

/ / | / /

G D7/F# Em7 Am7 D7

/ | / /

VERSE 1:

G D7sus4

/ /

All my friends are married--

G D7sus4

/ /

Ev'ry Tom and Dick and Harry--

G D7/F# Em7 Am7 D7

/ / /

You must be strong if you're to go it alone--

G D7sus4

/ /

Here's to the bachelors and the Bow'ry bums--

G D7sus4

/ /

Those who feel that they're the ones that are

G Em Am7 D7 G C/G G

Better off without a wife--

CHORUS:

C D7

/ /

I been sleepin' until the crack of noon--

G D7/F# Em

Midnight howlin' at the moon-- and I been

Am7 D7

/ /

Goin' out when I want to, (and I'm)

G G7

/ /

Comin' home when I please--

C D7

/ /

Don't have to ask permission

G D7/F# Em

If I wanna go out fishin'--

Am7 D7sus4 D7

/ / / / /

Never have to ask for the keys--

VERSE 2:

G D7sus4

/ /

Well, I never been no Valentino--

G D7sus4

/ /

But I had a girl who lived in Reno--

G D7/F# Em7 Am7 D7

/ / /

Left me for a trumpet player, but it didn't get me down--

G D7sus4

/ /

He was wanted for assault, and though he

G D7sus4

/ /

Said it weren't his fault--

G Em Am7 D7 G C/G G

You know the coppers rode him right outa town--

CHORUS:

C D7

/ /

I been sleepin' until the crack of noon--

G D7/F# Em

Midnight howlin' at the moon-- and I been

Am7 D7

/ /

Goin' out when I want to, (and I'm)

G G7

/ /

Comin' home when I please--

C D7

/ /

Don't have to ask permission

G D7/F# Em

If I wanna go out fishin'--

Am7 D7sus4 D7

/ / / / /

Never have to ask for the keys--

VERSE 3: [_underlined_phrases_are_spoken_, ad-lib style]

G D7sus4 G D7sus4

/ / / /

_Ah,_yu'_see,_I'm_kinda_selfish_about_my privacy_--

G D7/F# Em7 Am7

/ /

Now as long as I can be with me, _we_get_along_so_well,_I_can_

_hardly_believe_it_--

G D7sus4

/ /

Love to chew the fat with folks--

G D7sus4

/ /

I been list'nin' to all your dirty jokes--

G Em Am7 D7 G C/G G

I'm so thankful for these friends I do receive--

CHORUS:

C D7

/ /

I been sleepin' until the crack of noon--

G D7/F# Em

Midnight howlin' at the moon-- and I been

Am7 D7

/ /

Goin' out when I want to, (and I'm)

G G7

/ /

Comin' home when I please--

C D7

/ /

Don't have to ask permission

G D7/F# Em

If I wanna go out fishin'--

Am7 D7sus4 D7

/ / / / /

Never have to ask for the keys--

[...recording ends (& begins) with some "Here Comes the Bride" piano!]

About Better Off Without A Wife Chords by Tom Waits

Learn how to play Better Off Without A Wife by Tom Waits with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Better Off Without A Wife chords”, “Better Off Without A Wife guitar chords”, or “Tom Waits Better Off Without A Wife chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Better Off Without A Wife chords and for experienced players who want accurate Better Off Without A Wife lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, G, D7sus4, D7sus4/G, C/G, D7/F#.

FAQ — Better Off Without A Wife by Tom Waits

How do I play "Better Off Without A Wife" by Tom Waits on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Better Off Without A Wife" by Tom Waits on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Better Off Without A Wife" by Tom Waits free?

Yes. The chords for "Better Off Without A Wife" by Tom Waits are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Better Off Without A Wife" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Better Off Without A Wife" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Better Off Without A Wife"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Better Off Without A Wife" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Better Off Without A Wife" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Better Off Without A Wife" by Tom Waits with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Tom Waits below.

What key is "Better Off Without A Wife" in?

The chords for "Better Off Without A Wife" show the original chord names (including A, G, D7sus4, D7sus4/G, C/G, D7/F#). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.