Chords | The Stumble
Verse 1
| N.C |
| A7 | A7 | E7 B7 | E7 |
| A7 A9 | A7 | B7 | B7 |
| E7 N.C | E7 N.C | A7 N.C A7 N.C | A#dim7 |
| E C#m | F#7 B7 | E7 A7 | E7 B7 |
Verse 2
| A9 | A7 | E7 B7 | E7 |
| A9 | A7 | B7 | B7 |
| E7 N.C | E7 N.C | A7 N.C A7 N.C | A#dim7 |
| E C#m | F#7 B7 | E7 A7 | E7 B7 |
Verse 3 (no stops)
| A7 | A7 | E7 | E7 |
| A7 | A7 | B7 | B7 |
| E7 | E7 | A7 | A#dim7 |
| E C#m | F#7 B7 | E7 A7 | E7 B7 |
Verse 4 (as verse 3)
| A7 | A7 | E7 | E7 |
| A7 | A7 | B7 | B7 |
| E7 | E7 | A7 | A#dim7 |
| E C#m | F#7 B7 | E7 A7 | E7 B7 |
Verse 5 (as verse 2)
| A9 | A7 | E7 B7 | E7 |
| A9 | A7 | B7 | B7 |
| E7 N.C | E7 N.C | A7 N.C A7 N.C | A#dim7 |
| E C#m | F#7 B7 | E7 A7 | E7 B7 |
Verse 6
| A9 | A7 | E7 B7 | E7 |
| A9 | A7 | B7 | B7 |
| E7 N.C | E7 N.C | A7 N.C A7 N.C | A#dim7 |
| E C#m | F#7 B7 | E7 E/G# A7 A#dim7 | B11 F#7 F7 E7 ||
The Stumble: Learn the Progressions That Power This Instrumental Blues Standard
Above, I’ve written the chords exactly as they appear in the tune, as I transcribed all of The Stumble note for note.
Below, you’ll find a simplified chord chart which, to be honest, makes more musical sense. Rather than tracking every variation, we’ll focus on the essential harmony.
Essentially, there are two sections — one with stops, one without — plus an ending. Here’s what you’ll find in verses 1, 2, 5, and 6:
| A7 | A7 | E7 B7 | E7 |
| A7 | A7 | B7 | B7 |
| E7 N.C | E7 N.C | A7 N.C A7 N.C | A#dim7 |
| E C#m | F#7 B7 | E7 A7 | E7 B7 |
- In bar 3, a B7 lands on beat 3+, leading into E7 in bar 4.
- The stops in bars 9 and 10 are full-bar rests.
- In bar 11, A7 hits on beats 1 and 3, while bar 12 builds tension using A#dim7.
The turnaround follows a I – VI – IIx – V – I – IV – I – V movement. Occasionally, A9 is played instead of A7 — these subtle variations are best understood through TAB, here’s a link: The Stumble – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Verse 3 + 4
In the middle section of The Stumble, the progression is played without stops:
| A7 | A7 | E7 | E7 |
| A7 | A7 | B7 | B7 |
| E7 | E7 | A7 | A#dim7 |
| E C#m | F#7 B7 | E7 A7 | E7 B7 |
The key differences here are the absence of stops, no B7 to E7 movement, and no use of A9.
End
The ending can be described using chords, although it only fully makes sense when combined with the bass movement:
| E C#m | F#7 B7 | E7 E/G# A7 A#dim7 | B11 F#7 F7 E7 |
Once you’ve worked through the full transcription, this chart becomes a helpful guide and encourages you to make The Stumble your own. Freddie King never played it the same way twice — and that’s exactly the spirit you should aim for.
When playing along with the original recording, you’ll notice your guitar won’t quite match the pitch. To sync with Freddie, either tune up to 455Hz using an online tuner or use Serato to pitch the track down by approximately 3.4%.
The Stumble Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Download my chord chart as a PDF, or use the iReal Pro format if you’d like to play it in more keys—with a backing track too! It’s a great way to practise improvising and comping across the fretboard.
The Stumble TAB | Course Preview
Having spent many days on the transcription, I really feel it’s well worth working through it bar by bar before setting out to play a looser, more improvised version, while still maintaining the main themes.
As a preview, here’s the first verse (there are five more like this in the course).
Freddie King: The Fiercest of the Three Blues Kings
The youngest of the legendary “Three Kings” of the blues, Freddie King earned the nickname “The Texas Cannonball” for good reason.
Born Frederick Christian King on September 3rd, 1934, in Texas, he was immersed in music from an early age. However, his family relocated to Chicago while he was still young, placing him right at the heart of a thriving blues scene. This combination of Southern roots and urban influence would go on to shape his distinctive sound.
Freddie King’s playing represents a powerful fusion of Texas and Chicago blues styles. From Texas, he drew a sense of raw energy and rhythmic drive, while Chicago contributed a harder, electrified edge. The result was a tone that was sharper, louder, and more forceful than many of his contemporaries.
Where B.B. King was known for his expressive vibrato and Albert King for his string bending, Freddie brought a fiery intensity that set him apart.
His approach to the guitar was bold and innovative. Freddie pushed improvisation further than many blues players of his time, often stretching beyond traditional phrasing and exploring more aggressive, dynamic ideas. His instrumental tracks, in particular, showcased his ability to combine precision with sheer power, making his performances both technically impressive and emotionally charged.
This fearless style didn’t just win over blues audiences—it deeply influenced the next generation of guitarists. Eric Clapton, among others, has often cited Freddie King as his favorite of the Three Kings, praising both his tone and his adventurous playing.
Freddie King’s legacy lies in that unmistakable intensity. He didn’t just play the blues—he attacked it, reshaping its possibilities and leaving a lasting mark on electric guitar music.
The Stumble Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: The Stumble (Freddie King) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
