Robben Ford Discussion

[jconstant]

I'm trying to figure out the chords but I'm stuck on some of them.

The tune is an Bb minor blues and starts with Bm7 through the whole verse:

Bbm7

---6-----
---6-----
---6-----
---6-----
---------
---6-----

Then, I think the bridge goes to an Abm9, Gm7, B9, Bbm7, Eb9, Bbm7, Gbm7, Bm7, Bbm7. In particular, I'm not so sure I'm right on the Gbm7 and the Bm7 and the end.

Here are the other voicings I'm using:

Abm9
-------6--
---4-----
---4-----
---4-----
---------
---4-----

Gm7
---3-----
---3-----
---3-----
---3-----
---------
---3-----

B9
---2-----
---2-----
---2-----
--1------
---2-----
---------


Eb9
---6-----
---6-----
---6-----
--5------
---6-----
---------


Gbm7
---2-----
---2-----
---2-----
---2-----
---------
---2-----

Bm7
---7-----
---7-----
---7-----
---7-----
---------
---7-----

Can anyone with some better trained ears than me help me out?

Thanks,
Jim
_________________
"Somebody's got to make some music around here." - Robben Ford

[Ron S]

Ok here's my take:

As you said Bbm7 for the verse

the bridge:

Abm9/ Eb over G/ B9/Bm7
Eb9/Bm7/F#69/B13

Bearing in mind most of these are implied chords so Robben does not necessarily play the roots.

Voicings are:

Abm9 xx4446
Eb over G 3x5343
B9 x2x222
Bbm7 xxx666
Eb9 x65666
Bbm7 xxx666
F#69 x98899
B13 7x9899

Disclaimer: "But what do I know?"

Hope this helps you out Jim.

Ron

[jconstant]

That's great, Ron. It helped a lot. Thanks!

I could hear the Db that I now know is at the top of that F#6/9 and the B13, but I couldn't peg the rest of the chord. Those two chords and the Eb over G really gave me trouble. Was there anything in particular about those chords that made it easy for you or is it just well trained ears?

On another note, I was in London in April for several weeks and looked to see if you were gigging while I was there but I didn't see anything. I'm going over to Scotland for a couple of weeks in September. Any chance you're playing in the vicinity?

Thanks again,
Jim
_________________
"Somebody's got to make some music around here." - Robben Ford

[BlueRunner]

Many thanks Ron S!

Among the cool things about this tune: The Bm7 groove (including solos) has a lot of the same things going for it as some of Otis Taylor's single-chord "trance blues" songs, but then Robben pulls some interesting chord changes out of his hat. Or more probably, out of the years of experience he built onto his early studies of Mickey Baker's jazz chord book.
_________________
- BlueRunner

[sifender56]

Hi guys

The Bbm7 at the start then I would go with this for the middle:


Abm9 - Eb/G - B9 - Bbm7
Ebm7 - Bbm7 - F#7 - B7

Solo (I think??)

Eb9 - Bbm7 - F#9 - F9

Thanks

Si
_________________
www.reverbnation.com/redstate