50 Ways To Leave Your Lover | TAB
If you disregard all the fancy extensions and think in Roman numerals, the verse chords for 50 Ways To Leave Your Loverare just this:
VI – V – IV – IIIx, followed by the more complex VI – #Vdim7 – IIdim – VI/5.
The next line is the same as the first, and we finish with VI – II – VI.
With extensions, it’s a different story. Let’s break it down, using TAB. Here are the first two bars, which also repeat in line 3:
- The first chord, an Em/G, could also be described as a G6.
- D6 is achieved by swapping the root on string 2 for the 6th.
- Cmaj7 maintains that open B string.
- B7b9 is a natural extension as this is Phrygian Dominant.
- B7 is still chord IIIx, and we’ve resolved the b9 to the root.
Here’s line 2, which has the “crazy” II chord in it:
We probably need that common Em chord to handle what’s coming up. This makes the last Em/G feel more appropriate as the name, rather than G6.
B7/D# is chord IIIx, with its 3rd in the bass. Most people mistakenly call this a D#dim7, but there’s an open B string.
F#dimadd4 has appeared because you could have just moved the D#dim7 up a m3rd to get a different inversion, F#dim7. The open B string is what gives it the “crazy” name. Paul has experimented here.
Em/B is often called a Baug in tutorials, but there’s nothing on string 4, so it’s more accurately an Em/B.
Line 3 is the same as line 1. Here’s the last part of the verse, which is super simple—just VI – II – VI.
Play along with the original recording using this TAB, as well as the chords and lyrics.
The chorus chords are essentially just I – bIIIx – IV, but since there are several guitars playing licks, and you’re most likely going to be the only guitarist in the band, I’ve made a part for you. Again, let’s use TAB to explain it!
As you can see, it’s the same thing four times—just change the initial root note.
Once you can play what I’ve written here, start varying the licks, aiming to include the intervals of G7 – G6, which corresponds to the G Mixolydian scale. You could also blend this with the G minor blues scale.
If you have a bass player, let them handle the Bb – C movement. The guitars are essentially playing G chords throughout, with blues- and country-esque licks.
50 Ways To Leave Your Lover Backing Tracks + TAB | Related Pages
50 Ways To Leave Your Lover | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn to play 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover by Paul Simon using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Em/G D6 | Cmaj7 B7b9 B7 |
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