Robben Ford Discussion

Adam H · Newbie Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2

Does anyone know where I can find some tablature/notation/ANYTHING on this solo? This is one of my favorites... Very smooth inclusion of those altered tones. I've been playing for 17 years, and can figure out most things, but for some reason (probably because it's so GOOD), this is one that still escapes me. What's really getting me is the second part of the IV in the chord progression. What he's doing not really all that "out", but it's so smooth and tasteful, I just have to figure it out. Thanks! Adam.

bluejack · Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 8:49 pm Post subject:

Yes, it's transcribed in the songbook 'The Robben Ford Blues Guitar Collection' pub by MCA and distributed by Hal Leonard. # HL00690042
Great solo!!
J

juspasinby2003 · Senior Member Joined: 18 Dec 2003 Posts: 255

That solo is even one of Robben's favorites. There was a long thread on this topic a while back. Try searching for it. It might contain something of interest for you. Also, for what it's worth, the commercial transcriptions I've seen (both of them) were surprisingly accurate and well done.

Adam H · Newbie Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2

Great, I'll look for that book. There's great guitar all over that CD, as well as all the others, but that one has always stood out. The other one that I really love is on Spoonful with Jimmy Witherspoon, on Nothing's Changed. It's just unreal, and extremely difficult to play. The most amazing thing is how it's so un-guitar like, and draws so much more from the whole saxophone influence. Anyway, thanks for the tip!

Sonarguitar · Member Joined: 23 Nov 2003 Posts: 15

Robben's "Misdirected Blues" solo was covered in the British guitar publication, Guitar Techniques back in October 1995. This magazine came with a CD of backing tracks and musical examples.

It's slowed down on CD and is actually a very nice job by Dave Kilminster. The transcription is well done, but the best is the almost bar-by-barre breakdown in a theory sense.

For example:

"In bar 6 we have an Eb5 chord which Robben treats as an Eb7 by first playing an Eb7 arpeggio over it. [Example given here]

He then adds some stock blues phrases, again using that interplay between the minor and Major 3rd, but this time in Eb. In other words he treats the Eb5 chord separately from the rest of the progression, instead of staying in C, bending a note and hoping for the best (yes YOU!). In the second 12 bar, when he hits this chord (bar eighteen) he elects to use a Bb minor 7 arpeggio [example given here] and an Eb Major triad [example given here].

This implies Eb11 to Eb Major and both of these can be found in the Eb Mixolydian scale."[example given here]

EricKemp · Newbie Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 1

I adore this solo so its great to see others love it too.

I just did a concert Friday last along with some other guitarists here in Milan, Italy where I live and we did this track too. I used my old 1978 Gibson 335 to play it. I enjoy the chord progression almost as much as the solo itself.

I learnt it via the book mentioned in this eMail string. I will however check out the 1995 guitar techniques mag too.