The ULTIMATE 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover Chords And Guitar Lesson (Paul Simon)

Here’s a witty song with a pretty depressing undertone.

It’s a unique blend of playful lyrics, a broad sentiment, and of course, the blues…

Paul Simon plays it fingerstyle. 

Grab your 6-stringer, and let’s dive into this "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover?

"50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" was written by Paul Simon in 1975. It became his first solo number-one single in the U.S. after parting ways with Art Garfunkel.

They got together in the 1950s when first performed as "Tom and Jerry." But their big fame emerged in the 1960s when they adopted their real names and embraced a folk-inspired sound.  

“50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” is renowned for its playful yet punchy lyrics. The inspiration for the song came during Simon's own divorce from Peggy Harper. He reportedly came up with the opening lyrics while waking up in his Central Park apartment, reflecting on his pain. 

The chorus’s lighthearted rhymes, like "Slip out the back, Jack" and "Make a new plan, Stan," were developed while Simon was playing rhyming games with his young son, Harper. This juxtaposition of playful lyrics and the deeper emotional context of his personal life gives the song its unique character

“50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” also features an iconic drum groove created by legendary drummer Steve Gadd. Paul Simon reportedly gave Steve Gadd free rein to experiment during the session. And that’s when Gadd came up with the distinctive groove on the spot. He described it as "a little New Orleans, a little military." The groove is iconic and shows how adept Gadd is as a musician.

The track was recorded at A&R Studios in New York City, and a part of of Simon’s album Still Crazy After All These Years. The album won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1976, and "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks receiving a Gold certification in the U.S.​

Simon has been deliberately vague about the song's specific inspiration, but its blend of wit and melancholy has resonated with audiences around the world. 

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover?

The tuning for "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" as recorded by Paul Simon is standard tuning. 

Standard tuning for a guitar is spelled out as EADGBE. 

Here are the strings: 

• E (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch)

Next, let’s talk about…

Does 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover use a capo?

No, Paul Simon does not use a capo to play “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” on guitar. However, he does play it without a pick (fingerstyle) and uses a number of sophisticated chord shapes.  

So let’s next let’s dive into the…

50 Ways To Leave Your Lover Chords

To play "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” as recorded by Paul Simon you’ll need to know 12 main chord shapes Em/G, D6, Cmaj7, B7b9, Em, D#dim7, B7/F#, Baug, Am, G, Bb, and C. Let’s take a look at a few options for how they can be played on the fretboard.

Em/G is an Em triad with a G in the bass like this:

D6 is played like a typical (campfire) chord but with the 2nd string open like this:

Cmaj7 has a slightly jazzier sound and is played on strings 5 through 2:

B7b9 is played is played on the same strings as Cmaj7 like this:

Em is played using all 6 strings like this:

D#dim7 is played on the top 4 strings and in 1st position like so:

B7/F# is a unique chord in that it’s played in the 4th position. But also blends in open strings like this:

Baug is another variation in open position on the middle strings like this:

Am is played from the 5th string down like this:

Then we move on to the Chorus section where we have the final 3 chords G, Bb, and C. These are all played using the same bar chord shape like this:

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard and want to learn it faster and in the simplest way. Then get your hands on my free fretboard guide PDF right here now:  

All right, now that you know the "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" chords, let’s now talk about…

What key is 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover in?

"50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" as recorded by Paul Simon is in the key of Em/G. The verse section focuses more on the minor tonality while the chorus shifts to the relative major. Let’s take a quick look at how each chord relate from the perspective of the key of G major.

Em/G (E minor with G in the bass)

Notes: G - B - E

Function: vi chord in G major. As the relative minor of G, E minor is diatonic to the key. The G in the bass emphasizes the tonic root.

D6 (D major with a 6th)

Notes: D - F# - A - B

Function: V chord with an added 6th. D is the dominant (V) chord in G major, and the 6th (B) is diatonic to the scale, adding color.

Cmaj7 (C major with a major 7th)

Notes: C - E - G - B

Function: IV chord with an added major 7th. The C chord is the subdominant (IV), and the B (major 7th) adds a jazzy flavor while still remaining in the key.

B7b9 (B dominant 7th with a flat 9)

Notes: B - D# - F# - A - C

Function: This chord is not in the key. It acts as a secondary dominant (V7/vi) leading to E minor. The flat 9 (C) adds tension. This is the same for the B7/F# and also the Baug. They are all variations on the same idea. 

Em (E minor)

Notes: E - G - B

Function: vi chord in G major. It’s the relative minor of G and naturally diatonic to the scale.

D#dim7 (D# diminished seventh)

Notes: D# - F# - A - Cbb

Function: Non-diatonic, but it can function as a chromatic passing chord leading to E minor or resolving to a diatonic chord.

Am (A minor)

Notes: A - C - E

Function: ii chord in G major. As the subdominant minor, it naturally fits within the key.

G (G major)

Notes: G - B - D

Function: I chord (tonic). It establishes the key center and feels resolved.

Bb (B-flat major)

Notes: Bb - D - F

Function: This acts as the (flat III) chord and adds a bluesy sound.

C (C major)

Notes: C - E - G

Function: IV chord in G major. The subdominant adds contrast and movement toward the tonic or dominant.

That’s the theory, but remember it doesn’t mean a thing without a good…

50 Ways To Leave Your Lover Strumming Pattern

The main underlying groove for "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" is a funky even 16th note feel. This gives the song that military drum vibe in the verse and then the dance beat in the chorus. 

Straight 16th notes involve dividing each beat of a 4/4 time signature into four equal parts. This creates a consistent and perculating rhythm.

In 4/4 time, where each measure has four beats, subdividing the beats into 16th notes results in 16 notes per measure. To count them, we typically use the following syllables:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Here’s the breakdown:

1, 2, 3, 4: These represent the beats in the measure.

e: The second 16th note of each beat.

&: The third 16th note of each beat (the midpoint between beats).

a: The fourth 16th note of each beat. 

When counted out loud, it would sound like this: 

"One ee and uh, Two ee and uh, Three ee and uh, Four ee and uh."

That’s the feel for the 16th notes. But I wouldn’t play all 16th notes the whole time. I would fingerpick simply during the verse, then switch to a strum in the chorus like this:

Conclusion

To wrap it up, while heartbreak is tragic. Sometimes many good things can come out of it as a positive result. 

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide PDF right here now:   

Jon MacLennan