Steve's Spinal Column #22
CAUSE AND EFFECT
I just recorded a great tune along with guitarist Donnie Celenza and drummer John Favicchia called "Cause We've Ended As Lovers". It's on my latest CD. It was written by Stevie Wonder and immortalized in a rendition by Jeff Beck. It has a great melody and interesting but fairly easy chord progression. It's an intense ballad that has a jazzy sophistication with a very bluesy feel.
'CAUSE WE"VE ENDED AS LOVERS"
||: Cmin7 | AbMaj7 | Fmin7 | Csus C :||
(The D/C is actually a D7 chord third inversion with the seventh in the bass)
............................./ ///
||: D/C | Fmin7 Bb7 | Csus C :||
......................./ ///
SOLOS:
||: Cmin7 | AbMaj7 | Fmin7 | G7b9 :||
The solos are easy and fun.
.........................(originally Jeff uses GMaj7b5)
The easiest approach would be a C blues scale:
C Eb F (Gb) G Bb
But this omits the Ab which is the root of the AbMaj7 and the 3rd of Fmin7.
To this end use the relative Major, the Eb Major scale:
Eb F G Ab Bb C D
In addition the added 'D' is the ninth of the key and sounds fine.
Technically an Eb Major scale with the key actually being Cminor is called the C aeolian:
C D Eb F G Ab Bb
Additionally over the G7b9 we can add the B natural since G7b9 = G B D F Ab
You can also use a diminished idea in this spot.
The G7b9 is very unresolved so you can use many other tensions as well, including b5, #5 and #9.
G7.... b9=Ab
#9=A#
b5=Db
#5=D#
When comping the chords, I suggest playing sparsely but very present. Add color. Use techniques like arpeggiation or slides. Different electronic effects could prove useful as well.
This tune should be very dramatic. I think the title tells it all. Play like you're imitating two feuding lovers. Then of course there's the less famous:
"Cause We've Ended As Livers" .... The story of an alcoholics' journey.