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1958 Rumble by Link Wray. Really easy and quick to learn. Still very fun to play over the backing track. One thing threw me a little though. This is in the key of E using the 1-4-5-7 chords. The 7 chord in the key of E would be a diminshed d. However, Link Wray used a dsus2. Sounds great. Brings up some tension and resolves to the E. But I’m curious if there is a music theory reason why you would use a dsus2 instead of the diminished d. Was is it simply that Link Wray liked the way it sounded better, or would there be a theory reason why this works? It’s only important as to me wanting to understand it.
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Hi Robert,
That’s an oldie!Rumble is basically a “blues” in E using I, IV and V7 (E, A and B7), but where each chord is preceded or introduced by that Dsus2 chord, like so:
| – – Dsus2 Dsus2| E – – – | 2X
| – – Dsus2 Dsus2| A – – – |
| – – Dsus2 Dsus2| E – – – |
| – – Dsus2 Dsus2| B7 – – – |
| – – Dsus2 Dsus2| E – – – |I think Link Ray liked it like that – no other particular reason!
Having said that, with blues and rock, the Mixolydian mode is never far away… In E, the chord on the 7th degree in D#° (not D° as you wrote), but in E Mixolydian, that chord becomes a D.
There are countless rock songs based on the progression E – A – D or I – IV – bVII.
If you sus2 that D chord, it’s neither a major nor a minor chord anymore and we get a “bVIIsus2” which is still strong enough to convey that Mixolydian vibe.
…for what it’s worth 😉 -
Helps a lot, and I did understand that it is actually a D# Diminished, 1/2 step from the Tonic. I just goofed when I typed it up. I appreciate the in depth look at it. I played the song using a Diminished D# but it did not sound as good. I can see why Link Wray used the Dsus2 but it does bother me that I have so much more to learn about chord substitutions and what could really make things more interesting. Every little thing is a learning experience, even an easy song like Rumble. Thank you Jean-Michel.
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I noticed the walk up was E minor pent. I didn’t put two and two together like that though. Nice thought John.
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Lotta people reckon Link just played the first two strums as all strings open. But I think I can hear the Dsus2. He does play the first two strums as upstrokes, and that could be to emphasize the Dsus2. I can’t really tell much from watching this old video (bad lighting and all) but look at what a badass he was….greasy hair, gold necklace, long sideburns, chewing gum while he plays. My hyper-christian parents thought he was the devil incarnate, pure evil of the worst kind. That’s why I admired him.
Sunjamr Steve
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