Chords for 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover (Lesson - Tuned Slightly Down) - Paul Simon
Tempo:
137.5 bpm
Chords used:
Em
B
D
A
Am
Tuning:Standard Tuning (EADGBE)Capo:+0fret

Jam Along & Learn...
Hey y'all.
How about we go through the chords for 50 ways to leave your lover.
It's really all about the drums in that tune.
Some cool jazzy sounding chords.
[Em] I guess [B] it's in
[G] verses are in E minor then the chorus goes up to G.
It's kind of cool.
But it starts with this [B] chord progression after [A] the drum
intro.
[D]
[Em] [B] [Em] [B]
[Em] This E minor done as D and B at 5.
D, B at 5.
G at 4.
High E at 3.
[D] [Bm] The second one is a D without the B string covered.
[Em]
[D] [C] Third one is a C without the B
[A] covered.
[Em]
[D] [C]
[B]
[A] So I don't know what that's called but A string open D at 1.
[C] G at 2.
B at 1.
[B] High [A] E open.
[B] [E] And then you have to sort of take your pull your finger off the [A] B
string [Em] to an E minor.
And then [Eb] this a chord that Paul uses a lot.
[G] It's just
[B] like that [Am] just like the one you just [B] did.
[B] [Eb] Except now the high E is covered at 2
on this [D] version.
So it's a D7 [G] with the D covered at the first [Eb] fret.
[Em] So now so far
we've got D [D]
with the open B [C] string.
C with an open B [Bb] string.
And then [A] this.
[B]
[Em] So an E minor.
Then [Eb] this.
[B]
That's a B7 except you only do the top of it.
D, G and B at 4.
High E at 5.
[E]
[B] I do that as this voicing of a B7.
And then this voicing of a B7.
Which is this.
Which is barring a regular B7.
And [Em] then back to the
beginning.
[Bm]
Same D thing.
[Em] Same C thing.
And then the [B] same with this one.
[Em]
50 [Am] ways [Em] to leave your lover.
That's the E minor to A minor [Am] 7.
[Em] Now when [Bm] that's the whole
[Em] progression which repeats that thing again.
[D]
[Em] [B] [Em]
[B] [Eb]
[Em] [D] [Em]
[Am] [Em]
Now sometimes I hear it as he's
doing E minor to A minor [Am] 7 with that high E [Em] covered.
And then back.
And then
the second time through he just does it [Am] [Em] as a straight A [E] minor.
I haven't
listened to it close enough to see if he does A minor 7 each time.
I don't [A] think he does actually.
But I like it.
It makes it different.
[G] So then that gets to the chorus.
It's G.
Step on the bus.
[Bb] Don't need to discuss my smart.
You know then you go up to your B flat.
[C]
[G]
[B]
[F] [C]
[G] Back into another verse.
[Gb]
[G] There was a couple of maybe three guitars going.
One's electric.
One or two electric.
And they're playing different voicings of
them.
But this is for a main acoustic guitar part.
This is how I figured out
the chords.
But I'm sure there are other people including Paul that do it differently.
[Em] But [D] [Em]
[Eb]
[B] [Em] [D]
[Em] [A] [Em]
[Am] [Em]
[Am] [Em]
[B] that's how I'm doing it.
Good luck.
[N]
How about we go through the chords for 50 ways to leave your lover.
It's really all about the drums in that tune.
Some cool jazzy sounding chords.
[Em] I guess [B] it's in
[G] verses are in E minor then the chorus goes up to G.
It's kind of cool.
But it starts with this [B] chord progression after [A] the drum
intro.
[D]
[Em] [B] [Em] [B]
[Em] This E minor done as D and B at 5.
D, B at 5.
G at 4.
High E at 3.
[D] [Bm] The second one is a D without the B string covered.
[Em]
[D] [C] Third one is a C without the B
[A] covered.
[Em]
[D] [C]
[B]
[A] So I don't know what that's called but A string open D at 1.
[C] G at 2.
B at 1.
[B] High [A] E open.
[B] [E] And then you have to sort of take your pull your finger off the [A] B
string [Em] to an E minor.
And then [Eb] this a chord that Paul uses a lot.
[G] It's just
[B] like that [Am] just like the one you just [B] did.
[B] [Eb] Except now the high E is covered at 2
on this [D] version.
So it's a D7 [G] with the D covered at the first [Eb] fret.
[Em] So now so far
we've got D [D]
with the open B [C] string.
C with an open B [Bb] string.
And then [A] this.
[B]
[Em] So an E minor.
Then [Eb] this.
[B]
That's a B7 except you only do the top of it.
D, G and B at 4.
High E at 5.
[E]
[B] I do that as this voicing of a B7.
And then this voicing of a B7.
Which is this.
Which is barring a regular B7.
And [Em] then back to the
beginning.
[Bm]
Same D thing.
[Em] Same C thing.
And then the [B] same with this one.
[Em]
50 [Am] ways [Em] to leave your lover.
That's the E minor to A minor [Am] 7.
[Em] Now when [Bm] that's the whole
[Em] progression which repeats that thing again.
[D]
[Em] [B] [Em]
[B] [Eb]
[Em] [D] [Em]
[Am] [Em]
Now sometimes I hear it as he's
doing E minor to A minor [Am] 7 with that high E [Em] covered.
And then back.
And then
the second time through he just does it [Am] [Em] as a straight A [E] minor.
I haven't
listened to it close enough to see if he does A minor 7 each time.
I don't [A] think he does actually.
But I like it.
It makes it different.
[G] So then that gets to the chorus.
It's G.
Step on the bus.
[Bb] Don't need to discuss my smart.
You know then you go up to your B flat.
[C]
[G]
[B]
[F] [C]
[G] Back into another verse.
[Gb]
[G] There was a couple of maybe three guitars going.
One's electric.
One or two electric.
And they're playing different voicings of
them.
But this is for a main acoustic guitar part.
This is how I figured out
the chords.
But I'm sure there are other people including Paul that do it differently.
[Em] But [D] [Em]
[Eb]
[B] [Em] [D]
[Em] [A] [Em]
[Am] [Em]
[Am] [Em]
[B] that's how I'm doing it.
Good luck.
[N]
100% ➙ 138BPM
Em
B
D
A
Am
Em
B
D
_ Hey y'all. _ _ _ _
How about we go through the chords for 50 ways to leave your lover.
It's really all about the drums in that tune. _
Some cool jazzy sounding chords. _ _
[Em] _ _ _ I guess [B] it's in _
[G] _ verses are in E minor then _ the chorus goes up to G.
It's kind of cool.
_ But it starts with this [B] chord progression after [A] the drum
intro.
[D] _ _ _
[Em] _ _ [B] _ _ [Em] _ _ [B] _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [Em] _ This _ _ E _ _ _ minor _ _ done as D and B at 5.
_ D, B at 5.
G at 4.
_ _ High E at 3.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ [D] _ _ _ [Bm] The second one is a D without the B string covered.
[Em] _ _ _ _
[D] _ _ _ [C] _ _ _ Third one is a C without the B
[A] covered.
_ [Em] _ _ _
_ [D] _ _ _ _ [C] _ _ _
_ [B] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ [A] So I don't know what that's called but A string open D at 1. _
[C] G at 2.
B at 1.
[B] _ High [A] E open.
_ [B] _ [E] And then you have to sort of take your pull your finger off the [A] B
string _ [Em] to _ an E minor.
And then [Eb] this a _ _ chord that Paul uses a lot.
[G] It's just
[B] like that [Am] just like the one you just [B] did.
_ _ [B] _ [Eb] Except _ now the high E is covered at 2
on this [D] version.
So it's a D7 [G] with the D covered at the first [Eb] fret.
_ _ [Em] So now so far
we've got D _ _ [D] _ _ _ _
_ _ _ with the open B [C] string. _
_ _ _ C with an open B [Bb] string.
And then [A] this.
_ [B] _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [Em] _ So an E minor.
Then [Eb] this.
_ _ _ _ [B] _
_ _ That's a B7 _ except you only do the top of it.
_ _ _ D, G and B at 4.
High E at 5. _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ [E] _ _ _ _
[B] _ _ _ _ I do that as this voicing of a B7.
And then this voicing of a B7.
Which is this.
Which is barring a regular B7.
_ And _ [Em] then back to the
beginning.
_ _ [Bm] _
_ Same D thing.
[Em] Same C thing. _
_ And then the [B] same with this one.
_ _ [Em] _
_ 50 [Am] ways [Em] to leave your lover.
That's the E minor to A minor [Am] 7. _ _ _ _
[Em] _ _ _ Now when _ [Bm] that's the whole
[Em] progression which repeats that thing again.
_ [D] _ _ _
[Em] _ _ [B] _ _ _ [Em] _ _ _
[B] _ _ _ _ _ [Eb] _ _ _
[Em] _ _ [D] _ _ _ [Em] _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [Am] _ _ [Em] _
_ Now sometimes I hear it as he's
doing E minor to A minor [Am] 7 with _ that high E [Em] covered.
And then back.
And then
the second time through he just does it _ [Am] _ _ [Em] as a straight A [E] minor. _ _ _ _ _ _
I haven't
listened to it close enough to see if he does A minor 7 each time.
I don't [A] think he does actually.
_ _ But I like it. _
_ _ _ It makes it different. _
_ [G] So then that gets to the chorus.
It's G. _
_ Step on the bus.
_ _ [Bb] Don't need to discuss my smart.
You know then you go up to your B flat.
_ [C] _
_ _ _ _ [G] _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [B] _ _ _
[F] _ _ _ _ _ _ [C] _ _
_ _ _ [G] Back _ _ into another verse.
_ _ _ [Gb] _ _
_ _ [G] _ There was a couple of maybe three guitars going.
One's electric.
One or two electric.
And _ _ they're playing different voicings of
them.
But this is for a main acoustic guitar part.
This is how I figured out
the chords.
But I'm sure there are other people including Paul that do it differently.
[Em] But _ [D] _ _ [Em] _
_ _ _ _ _ _ [Eb] _ _
[B] _ _ _ _ _ [Em] _ _ [D] _
_ _ [Em] _ _ _ [A] _ _ [Em] _
_ _ [Am] _ _ [Em] _ _ _ _
_ _ _ [Am] _ _ [Em] _ _ _
_ _ [B] that's how I'm doing it.
Good luck.
[N] _
How about we go through the chords for 50 ways to leave your lover.
It's really all about the drums in that tune. _
Some cool jazzy sounding chords. _ _
[Em] _ _ _ I guess [B] it's in _
[G] _ verses are in E minor then _ the chorus goes up to G.
It's kind of cool.
_ But it starts with this [B] chord progression after [A] the drum
intro.
[D] _ _ _
[Em] _ _ [B] _ _ [Em] _ _ [B] _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [Em] _ This _ _ E _ _ _ minor _ _ done as D and B at 5.
_ D, B at 5.
G at 4.
_ _ High E at 3.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ [D] _ _ _ [Bm] The second one is a D without the B string covered.
[Em] _ _ _ _
[D] _ _ _ [C] _ _ _ Third one is a C without the B
[A] covered.
_ [Em] _ _ _
_ [D] _ _ _ _ [C] _ _ _
_ [B] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ [A] So I don't know what that's called but A string open D at 1. _
[C] G at 2.
B at 1.
[B] _ High [A] E open.
_ [B] _ [E] And then you have to sort of take your pull your finger off the [A] B
string _ [Em] to _ an E minor.
And then [Eb] this a _ _ chord that Paul uses a lot.
[G] It's just
[B] like that [Am] just like the one you just [B] did.
_ _ [B] _ [Eb] Except _ now the high E is covered at 2
on this [D] version.
So it's a D7 [G] with the D covered at the first [Eb] fret.
_ _ [Em] So now so far
we've got D _ _ [D] _ _ _ _
_ _ _ with the open B [C] string. _
_ _ _ C with an open B [Bb] string.
And then [A] this.
_ [B] _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [Em] _ So an E minor.
Then [Eb] this.
_ _ _ _ [B] _
_ _ That's a B7 _ except you only do the top of it.
_ _ _ D, G and B at 4.
High E at 5. _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ [E] _ _ _ _
[B] _ _ _ _ I do that as this voicing of a B7.
And then this voicing of a B7.
Which is this.
Which is barring a regular B7.
_ And _ [Em] then back to the
beginning.
_ _ [Bm] _
_ Same D thing.
[Em] Same C thing. _
_ And then the [B] same with this one.
_ _ [Em] _
_ 50 [Am] ways [Em] to leave your lover.
That's the E minor to A minor [Am] 7. _ _ _ _
[Em] _ _ _ Now when _ [Bm] that's the whole
[Em] progression which repeats that thing again.
_ [D] _ _ _
[Em] _ _ [B] _ _ _ [Em] _ _ _
[B] _ _ _ _ _ [Eb] _ _ _
[Em] _ _ [D] _ _ _ [Em] _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [Am] _ _ [Em] _
_ Now sometimes I hear it as he's
doing E minor to A minor [Am] 7 with _ that high E [Em] covered.
And then back.
And then
the second time through he just does it _ [Am] _ _ [Em] as a straight A [E] minor. _ _ _ _ _ _
I haven't
listened to it close enough to see if he does A minor 7 each time.
I don't [A] think he does actually.
_ _ But I like it. _
_ _ _ It makes it different. _
_ [G] So then that gets to the chorus.
It's G. _
_ Step on the bus.
_ _ [Bb] Don't need to discuss my smart.
You know then you go up to your B flat.
_ [C] _
_ _ _ _ [G] _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [B] _ _ _
[F] _ _ _ _ _ _ [C] _ _
_ _ _ [G] Back _ _ into another verse.
_ _ _ [Gb] _ _
_ _ [G] _ There was a couple of maybe three guitars going.
One's electric.
One or two electric.
And _ _ they're playing different voicings of
them.
But this is for a main acoustic guitar part.
This is how I figured out
the chords.
But I'm sure there are other people including Paul that do it differently.
[Em] But _ [D] _ _ [Em] _
_ _ _ _ _ _ [Eb] _ _
[B] _ _ _ _ _ [Em] _ _ [D] _
_ _ [Em] _ _ _ [A] _ _ [Em] _
_ _ [Am] _ _ [Em] _ _ _ _
_ _ _ [Am] _ _ [Em] _ _ _
_ _ [B] that's how I'm doing it.
Good luck.
[N] _