Babylon Guitar Lesson

Learn how to play Babylon by David Grey!

Babylon is played using a capo on fret 1, so what you hear is in Eb, but you think in D.

The opening lick use the maj7 of chord I, followed by chord IV, a G.

To move from I to IV is to move as far away as you can be from I, so far in fact that it feels as if we've gone somewhere new.

Compare this to a blues, which also moves from I to IV.

However, in 'Babylon', it is a maj7 rather than a dom7 chord.

Babylon Chord Progression

As the chorus arrives, the V and III chord are introduced.

Listen to what each chord feels like in relation to chord I.

Go as deep as comparing the vocal melody to the different chords of the chorus.

Write down your conclusions in the DIY TAB sheet.

Make sure you compare the sound of similar chord progressions of other songs to the one of 'Babylon'.

One idea could be to look at how the III chord is used in different songs. Look at both placement in progression and vocal melody.

Guitar Conspiracy e Book

A, A shape

D, D shape

Dmaj7, D shape

Em, Em shape

F#m7, Em shape

G, G shape