Call Me The Breeze TAB

BY JJ CALE

This is an anthology tune. It was the first one of the first JJ Cale's album in 1972 ('Naturally', the sleeve of which is on the left) and was released also in a few others among which 'The Very Best of JJ Cale' ( on the right).

J.J. Cale himself is the most discreet of all of the rock'n'roll stars and a very talented true musician and composer playing almost all the known instruments on earth !

His style inspired many , the most famous of all being Mark Knopfler. He is the author of a lot of famous tunes which have been often covered , including by Eric Clapton ( COCAINE, AFTER MIDNIGHT,...)

Call Me the Breeze is a feast to play. It is a Rock'n'Roll tinged with Country. There are three guitars and a bass. The solo is particularly interesting . Here we step out far from the pentatonic path ! Not only the blue note is there but also all the colours of the rainbow ! I tabbed the three guitars : two rhythm guitars and the solo guitar . I also tabbed the bass .

The tune consists of four verses of 12 bars, the third being only instrumental. The solo plays all along , punctuating each sung sentence and naturally all along the third verse. The tonality is F sharp. ( F# , B and C#)

The full MP3 demo can be heard or downloaded by clicking on the key :

In the demo I sampled the original drums.

All guitars are in standard tuning.

The first rhythm guitar is called LEAD RHYTHM in my tab. It is supposed to be played with a CAPO at the SECOND FRET.

It is played in a very classical manner with the little finger doing all the job !
To play it fast enough you have to alternate downstrokes and upstrokes.

The second rhythm guitar is called CLEAR RHYTHM here. It is played on the 4 first strings. In the demo, since I added chorus to this one it sounds like cajun accordion !

The solo guitar is slightly overdriven. ( Or more according to your personal taste !)

You will first find the tabs for the first 3 instruments ( 2 rhythms and bass) for the 12 bars that keep repeating 4 times in the course of the tune with very few variants. That is to say all 4 verses are played the same way for those 3 instruments.

LEGEND :

h : hammer-on
p : pull-off
/ : slide-up
\ : slide-down
^^ : let ring
(n): optional
>>>: strum quickly
XbY   : bend at the X fret until it sounds like Y   ( X < Y )
XrY   : release at the Y fret from the X sound ( X > Y :
        you start from the bended position )
Xb    : bend moderalety
n__   : linger on this note (rough way of noting rhythm !)

13 Short MP3 demos are given with the single instrument playing slowly.

LEAD RHYTHM (CAPO at the SECOND FRET - SO the frets for this guitar are counted up from the CAPO !)

F# 1 2 E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+ B+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+ G+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+ D+---2--2------------2--2-----------------+-------------------2--2-----------------+ A+---2--2---4--5--4--2--2---4--5--4-------+--2--2---4--5--4---2--2--4--5--4--------+ E+---0------0--0--0---------0--0--0-------+--0------0--0--0---------0--0--0--------+	Click on the LP to listen to the 2 bars
CLEAR RHYTHM (no CAPO) E+---2---------------2--------------------+--2----------------2--------------------+ B+---2------4--2--4--2------4--5--4-------+--2------4--2--4---2-----4--5--4--------+ G+---3------3--3--3---------3--3--3-------+--3------3--3--3---------3--3--3--------+ D+---4------4--4--4---------4--4--4-------+--4------4--4--4---------4--4--4--------+ A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+ E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
BASS G+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+ D+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+ A+---9---------------9------------7-------+--9----------------9-----------7--------+ E+----------9--9------------9--9----------+---------9--9------------9--9-----------+

LEAD RHYTHM
   3                                        4
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
D+-------------------2--2-----------------+-------------------2--2-----------------+
A+---2--2---4--5--4--2--2---4--5--4-------+--2--2---4--5--4---2--2--4--5--4--------+
E+---0------0--0--0---------0--0--0-------+--0------0--0--0---------0--0--4--------+

CLEAR RHYTHM
E+---2---------------2--------------------+--2----------------2--------------------+
B+---2------4--2--4--2------4--5--4-------+--2------4--2--4---2-----4--5--4--------+
G+---3------3--3--3---------3--3--3-------+--3------3--3--3---------3--3--3--------+
D+---4------4--4--4---------4--4--4-------+--4------4--4--4---------4--4--4--------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

BASS
G+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
D+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
A+---9---------------9------------7-------+--9----------------9-----------7--------+
E+----------9--9------------9--9----------+---------9--9------------9--9-----------+

LEAD RHYTHM
   B
   5                                        6
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+---2--2------------2--2-----------------+-------------------2--2-----------------+
D+---2--2---4--5--4--2--2---4--5--4-------+--2--2---4--5--4---2--2--4--5--4--------+
A+---0------0--0--0---------0--0--0-------+--0------0--0--0---------0--0--0--------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

CLEAR RHYTHM
E+---7---------------7--------------------+--7----------------7--------------------+
B+---7------9--7--9--7------9-10--9-------+--7------9--7--9---7-----9-10--9--------+
G+---8------8--8--8---------8--8--8-------+--8------8--8--8---------8--8--8--------+
D+---9------9--9--9---------9--9--9-------+--9------9--9--9---------9--9--9--------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

BASS
G+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
D+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
A+---2---------------2------------0-------+--2----------------2--------7--8--------+
E+----------2--2------------2--2----------+---------2--2------------9--------------+

LEAD RHYTHM
   F#
   7                                        8
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
D+---2--2------------2--2-----------------+-------------------2--2-----------------+
A+---2--2---4--5--4--2--2---4--5--4-------+--2--2---4--5--4---2--2--4--5--4--------+
E+---0------0--0--0---------0--0--0-------+--0------0--0--0---------0--0--4--------+

CLEAR RHYTHM
E+---2---------------2--------------------+--2----------------2--------------------+
B+---2------4--2--4--2------4--5--4-------+--2------4--2--4---2-----4--5--4--------+
G+---3------3--3--3---------3--3--3-------+--3------3--3--3---------3--3--3--------+
D+---4------4--4--4---------4--4--4-------+--4------4--4--4---------4--4--4--------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

BASS
G+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
D+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
A+---9---------------9------------7-------+--9----------------9-----------7--------+
E+----------9--9------------9--9----------+---------9--9------------9--9-----------+

LEAD RHYTHM
C#                                        B
   9                                        10
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
D+---9--9------------9--9-----------------+--7--7-------------7--7-----------------+
A+---9--9--11-12-11--9--9--11-12-11-------+--7--7---9-10--9---7--7--9-10--9--------+
E+---7------7--7--7---------7--7--7-------+--5------5--5--5---------5--5--5--------+

CLEAR RHYTHM
E+----9-----------------------------------+--7-------------------------------------+
B+----9-----------------------------------+--7-------------------------------------+
G+---10-->>>>>----------------------------+--8-->>>>>------------------------------+
D+---11-----------------------------------+--9-------------------------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

BASS
G+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
D+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
A+----4--------------4------------0-------+--2---------------2--------7--8---------+
E+-----------4--4-----------4--4----------+----------2--2----------9---------------+

LEAD RHYTHM
   11                                        12
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
D+---2--2------------2--2-----------------+-------------------2--2-----------------+
A+---2--2---4--5--4--2--2---4--5--4-------+--2--2---4--5--4---2--2--4--5--4--------+
E+---0------0--0--0---------0--0--0-------+--0------0--0--0---------0--0--4--------+

CLEAR RHYTHM
E+---2---------------2--------------------+--2----------------2--------------------+
B+---2------4--2--4--2------4--5--4-------+--2------4--2--4---2-----4--5--4--------+
G+---3------3--3--3---------3--3--3-------+--3------3--3--3---------3--3--3--------+
D+---4------4--4--4---------4--4--4-------+--4------4--4--4---------4--4--4--------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

BASS
G+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
D+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
A+---9---------------9------------7-------+--9----------------9-----------7--------+
E+----------9--9------------9--9----------+---------9--9------------9--9-----------+

From now on , only the solo guitar is tabbed. In the INTRO the four first bars are played.

INTRO :

    F#
1                                           2
E+--------6-----6----6------6---------6---+------9-----9-----9-----9---------9-----+
B+--------------------------------5-------+-------------------------------8--------+
G+---4/6-----6-----6-----6----6-----------+--/9-----9----9------9------9-----------+
D+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

3                                 4
E+--------11----11----11----11--------11--+-------14----14----14---14---------14---+
B+--------------------------------10------+-------------------------------14-------+
G+---9/11----11----11----11----11---------+-11/15---15----15----15----15-----------+
D+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
                                                                             They

1st verse :

    F#
1                                          2
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
D+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
   call me the breeze                                   I keep blowing down the

3                                    4
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+---------------14b----14\11!------------+-11--------9--11!-----------------14----+
D+--------16-16---------------------------+----11!--11-------------------------16--+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
   road                                                                      They

    B
5                                          6
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+-14b---------------------14b-14b--------+----------------------------------------+
D+-----16^^-------------16---------16-----+----------------------------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
   call me the breeze                                   I keep blowing down the



   F#
7                                          8
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+---------------14-16-14b----------14-16-+--17b18!----14-16-14--------------------+
D+---------14-16------------16----16------+---------------------16-14--------14b---+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------16----------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
   road                                                                      I

    C#                                       B
9                                          10
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

B+----------------------------14p12-14p12-+-14--------12---------------------------+
G+----------------------11/13-------------+----13\11------11^----------------------+
D+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
A+--16^^----------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
    ain't got me nobody                                            I ain' got me no

    F#
11                                          12
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

B+----------------------------------------+-14b16-14b16----------------------------+
G+--------14b-14b----------14!------------+--------------15-11-14-11-13-11---------+
D+----------------16------------16--------+--------------------------------13--11^^+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
   load                                                                   There's no

2nd Verse

    F#
1                                          2
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+---------------------------------11-11^^+----------------------------------------+
D+--------------------------11-13---------+----------------------------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
    change in the weather                                                Ain't no

3                                          4
E+----------------------------------------+---------14---17-16-14------------------+

B+----------------------------------------+-----------14---------17-16-14----------+
G+---------------14b-14b-----14-16-14-16--+--17b18!----------------------16-14-----+
D+-----------------------16---------------+-----------------------------------16---+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
    change in me                                                        There's no

   B
5                                          6
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+---------------------14!----------------+----------------------------------------+
G+------------------------16-14--14^^^----+----------------------------------------+
D+-----------------------------16---------+----------------------------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
   change in the weather                                                Ain't no

   F#
7                                          8
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

B+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+------------14-16-14---------14-16-14---+-17b18-17b18-16-14-16-14----------------+
D+--------------------16-14-16------------+------------------------16-14----14-----+
A+----------------------------------------+------------------------------16--------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
     change in me                                                  Ain't no hiding

   C#                                          B
9                                          10
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

B+---------------17-16-14-----------------+----------------------------------------+
G+------------------------16-15\13-13\11--+-11-------------------------------------+
D+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
A+-------16^^-----------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
    from nobody                                                     Nobody's hiding
   F#
11                                          12
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+--------------10b-----------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+--------11-11-----11--------------------+-----9b-9b------------------------------+
D+----------------------------------------+------------11--------------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
   from me

3rd Verse (intruments only)

    F#
1                                2
E+-----------12--13b14-14-14-13b14--14----+-14--------12---------------------------+
B+-----14-14------------------------------+---14--------12-14----------------------+
G+----------------------------------------+------------------14-16-----14----------+
D+----------------------------------------+------------------------16--------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

3                                    4
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

B+---------------------------14-----------+--14------------------------------------+
G+-------------14h15---14h15--------------+----14h15---14-------------14-16-14h15--+
D+----14-16-16------16--------------------+---------16--------14-15-16-----------16+
A+--16------------------------------------+--------------16-16---------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

   B
5                                          6
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+--15!-14!-12!---------------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+-------------14-11-14-11^^------14-16---+-14-16-14-----14h16-14---14--14--14-----+
D+---------------------------14-16--------+---------16-16--------16---16--16--16---+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

   F#
7                                          8
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+--------------13b14r13b14---------------+----------------------------------------+
G+-16-------------------------------------+--14-16-14----------14b-16--------------+
D+----------------------------------------+-----------16-14-16---------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

   C#                                          B
9                                          10
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

B+----14------14--16b17-14--16-14---------+-14b15-14-12--12------------------------+
G+--13--13-16---13--------13-----13\12\11-+------------14--14-13-11\9-11--11-9\----+
D+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

   F#
11                                          12
E+--------6---6---6-----5--4--------------+-----2^^----2-----2-----2...------------+
B+-----5----------------------------------+--2------2-----2-----2------------------+
G+---4/6----6---6----5--------------------+--3-------------------------------------+
D+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
                                                                       I got that

Last Verse

    F#
1                                          2
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+-----------------11-------------11------+----11----11-----11---------------------+
D+-------------------11-14----11----------+-11----11----11-------------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
green light baby                                                     I got to keep


3                                          4
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

B+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+------------11!--13!--13h14--15---------+-16p15-13\11-11-14p11--13p11--11^^^-----+
D+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
   moving on                                                             I got that

   B
5                                          6
E+-----------------------------7----------+------7---------------------------------+

B+--------------------------(7)---7--10---+--------7---10---7b--7b^^^--------------+
G+-----------------------9b---------------+----------------------------------------+
D+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
green light baby                                                     I got to keep

   F#
7                                          8
E+-------------14-----------14-------16---+----------------------------------------+

B+-------12/14----14---14-14--14--14------+------14--14-13--13-----12--------------+
G+----------------------------------------+-13\15--15-----14--14-13--14-11^^^------+
D+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
moving on                                                             I might go

   C#                                          B
9                                          10
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+------------------------13----13\11^^^--+----------------------------------------+
D+--------------------15-----15-----------+----------------------------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
   out to California                                                  might go down

   F#
11                                          12
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+--------------------------13b14---------+----------------------------------------+
G+----------------------------------------+---14-16-14-----------------------------+
D+----------------------------------------+-------------16-14-16-------------------+
A+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
   to Georgia I don't know

OUTRO and FADE (rather improvised here)

    F#
1                                           2
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
B+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
G+-----------------14b--------------------+-----------14-13------------------------+
D+--------14--16--------16----------------+----14-16--------16-------14--16-......-+
A+----16----------------------------------+-16-------------------16----------------+
E+----------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

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