Every Breath You Take
by The Police
Difficulty Profile
Skill LevelOverall
AdvancedRhythm
AdvancedLead
IntermediateBass
IntermediateWhy "Every Breath You Take" Works Harmonically
Beyond standard guitar tabs and chord charts, discover the exact music theory mechanics, modal interchange, and voice leading choices that give The Police's classic its unforgettable emotional power.
The Five-Fret Add9 Chord Finger Stretch and Chromatic Bridge Modulation
Andy Summers elevated a standard 1950s doo-wop progression by adding major 9th intervals to every chord, creating demanding five-fret stretches across strings 6, 5, 4, and 3. In the bridge, the song modulates unexpectedly to E major before an altered Eb dominant chord snaps the harmony back to Ab major, matching the obsessive narrative tone.
Harmonic Progression (Roman Numerals)
Iadd9 - viadd9 - IVadd9 - Vadd9Step-by-Step Movement
- •Abadd9 (Iadd9): Luminous tonic chord made bittersweet by the ringing Bb major 9th.
- •Fmadd9 (viadd9): Submediant chord adding poignant melancholy with its G natural 9th.
- •Dbadd9 (IVadd9): Subdominant chord expanding the harmonic space with an Eb major 9th.
- •Ebadd9 (Vadd9): Dominant chord providing disciplined turnaround momentum.
- •E (bVI): Chromatic modulation in the bridge creating claustrophobic emotional tension.
Voice Leading & Counterpoint
- ›The major 9th degree rings as an upper pedal voice throughout the chord sequence.
- ›Strict bridge palm muting isolates each sixteenth note into a clean, clockwork acoustic pulse.
- ›The bridge modulation moves stepwise down from E to F# to B before resolving through dominant Eb.
Fretboard Mechanics
Keep your fret-hand thumb centered on the back of the neck to allow your fingers to arch cleanly across the five-fret stretch. Use a compressor and analog chorus for crystalline 1980s tone.
Transform familiar progressions by adding consistent color extensions (like add9) across every chord. A dramatic chromatic bridge modulation creates powerful emotional relief when returning to the home key.
Musical Analysis
🎹 Key & Tonality
⏱️ Song Structure
💡 Understanding Ab Major:
Ab Major has a bright, uplifting character typical of major keys. The Major with add9 color extensions mode gives it a stable, resolved feeling. This key works well for anthemic rock songs and creates a powerful, confident mood.
Underpins the entire harmonic structure and the extended add9 arpeggio shapes
Relative minor scale that lends emotional vulnerability and tension to the Fmadd9 verse progression
Forms the clean melodic framework for the piano counter-melodies and guitar fills
Understand major chord construction and voicings
Primary Chords Used
Scale Patterns in Ab Major
Ab Major (Ionian)
Notes: Ab - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - G
Application: Underpins the entire harmonic structure and the extended add9 arpeggio shapes
Interactive Fretboard Map
Chord Progressions & Movement
Main Progression
Andy Summers transformed a standard 1950s doo-wop progression into a haunting new wave masterpiece by systematically adding major 9th intervals to every single chord, stretching across five frets under continuous palm muting.
💡 Theory Insight:
This progression creates a specific harmonic movement that defines the song's emotional character. Understanding the relationship between these chords helps in improvisation and songwriting.
Chord Shapes In This Section:
Abadd9
Fmadd9
Dbadd9
Ebadd9
Harmonic Functions & Roles:
- Abadd9 (I)Luminous tonic chord made bittersweet by the ringing Bb major 9th
- Fmadd9 (vi)Submediant chord introducing somber romantic obsession with its G natural 9th
- Dbadd9 (IV)Subdominant chord expanding the sonic spectrum with Eb major 9th
- Ebadd9 (V)Dominant chord providing disciplined structural turnaround without unresolved cliché
Key Techniques
Wide-Stretch Add9 Finger Geometry
AdvancedFretting demanding five-fret stretches across strings 6, 5, 4, and 3 while maintaining pristine note clarity and preventing fret-hand muscular strain
Uses chords:
Progression:
Abadd9 - Fmadd9 - Dbadd9 - Ebadd9
Technique Tips:
- •Warm up with gentle finger-stretching exercises before tackling this piece
- •If the five-fret stretch causes discomfort, use a capo on the 1st or 2nd fret initially to reduce fret distance
- •Lower your guitar strap slightly or adjust neck angle upward to ensure comfortable wrist alignment
Linear Telecaster Palm Muting
IntermediateApplying the heel of the pick hand lightly across the bridge saddles to damp every individual sixteenth note into a clean, clockwork acoustic pulse
Progression:
Continuous arpeggios
Technique Tips:
- •Andy Summers utilized a 1961 Fender Telecaster Custom with an onboard preamp for crystalline cut
- •Add an analog compressor (Boss CS-2 or MXR Dyna Comp) to even out individual note volume
- •Engage an analog chorus/flanger pedal with slow depth to achieve the signature watery 1983 shimmer
Practice Exercises
Scale and technique exercises in the key of Ab Major. Switch instrument sounds (Acoustic Steel, Nylon, Clean Electric, Piano) and practice at your own tempo.
Intro Clockwork Arpeggio Setup
Iconic Add9 Wide-Stretch Arpeggio Study
The immortal guitar figure begins in solo isolation: Andy Summers' Telecaster chimes with shimmering chorus and mechanical palm-muted precision at 117 BPM.
- •Strict palm muting on the bridge
- •Let the high major 9th interval (Bb) ring crisp and defined
- •Smooth fret-hand slide down to the Fmadd9 voicing
Verse 1 Hypnotic Staccato Drive
Verse Subdominant & Dominant Arpeggios
Sting's cool, restrained vocal enters over Stewart Copeland's crisp hi-hat and Summers' unyielding arpeggiated cycle.
- •Shift to Dbadd9 on the 5th string (fret 4 of A string)
- •Slide up two frets to Ebadd9 on fret 6 of A string
- •Keep pick attack even across all four strings
Chorus Melodic Expansion
Chorus Harmonic Turnaround Study
'Oh, can't you see, you belong to me...' - the emotional peak of the song as the progression shifts starting on the Dbadd9 chord.
- •Slightly relax palm muting for subtle dynamic blooming
- •Bass guitar supports with deep, warm pedal tones
- •High vocal harmonies blend with guitar overtones
Bridge Chromatic Modulation
Chromatic Bridge Modulation Study
'Since you've gone I've been lost without a trace...' - abrupt key shift to E major creating dark, obsessive emotional intensity before resolving through Eb.
- •Switch to open/barre chord voicings in E major
- •Intensify pick-hand downstrokes as harmonic tension builds
- •The climactic Eb major chord acts as the dominant V leading home to Ab
Outro Vamp & Hypnotic Fade
Endurance Outro Arpeggio Study
Continuous cyclical repetition of the Abadd9 and Fmadd9 arpeggios fading into infinity while Sting improvises soaring vocal counter-melodies.
- •Focus on breathing and pick-hand muscle memory
- •Maintain unwavering staccato muting to the very end
- •Subtle chorus pedal sweeps expand the stereo field
Equipment & Tone Setup
🎸 Guitar
Recommended Model:
Pickup Type:
Bridge single-coil for biting articulation, or middle position for crystalline shimmer
⚡ Amplifier & Settings
Recommended Amp:
Tone Stack Dial-In:
Gain: 3
Treble: 8
Middle: 5
Bass: 4
Presence: 7
🎛️ Effects Pedals
Overdrive / Distortion:
None (pure clean tone with compression)
Reverb / Delay:
Subtle studio plate reverb (1.2s decay)
Modulation / Other:
Boss CE-1 / CE-2 Chorus or Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress Flanger, paired with Boss CS-2 Compressor
Recommended Learning Path
Basic Triad Progression
⏱️ 1-2 weeks
- •Learn standard Ab, Fm, Db, and Eb major/minor barre chords
- •Practice transitioning between chords at 117 BPM
- •Establish palm muting technique on downstrokes
The Add9 Chord Shapes & Muting
⏱️ 3-4 weeks
- •Practice the five-fret finger stretch using a capo initially
- •Master the Abadd9 and Fmadd9 arpeggiation patterns
- •Lock in strict sixteenth-note palm muting without choking notes
Endurance, Bridge Modulation & Full Performance
⏱️ 4-6 weeks
- •Perform the entire 4-minute song without fret-hand fatigue
- •Execute the dramatic chromatic key shift in the bridge smoothly
- •Replicate Andy Summers' studio tone with compressor, chorus, and plate reverb
Practice Notes & Routine
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- •Wrapping the fret-hand thumb around the neck, which collapses the finger arch and makes the five-fret stretch impossible
- •Pressing too hard with the pick-hand palm, deadening the note tone into a thud instead of a ringing chime
- •Tensing the fret hand forearm, leading to rapid muscle exhaustion and strain
- •Rushing the tempo during chord shifts instead of maintaining clockwork 117 BPM timekeeping
⏱️Targeted Practice Routine
0/4 Completed (0%)Check off each segment during your session to track your practice progress:
- 5 mins: Gentle fret-hand finger stretching and spider warmup exercises
- 10 mins: Slow arpeggiation of Abadd9 at 70, 90, and 117 BPM
- 10 mins: Chord transition drills between Abadd9 and Fmadd9
- 10 mins: Bridge modulation study focusing on the altered Eb turnaround
🎯 Key Focus Areas
- •Fret-hand thumb positioning and finger arch geometry
- •Consistent bridge palm muting across all strings
- •Muscular endurance and relaxation during repetitive cycles
⏱️ Metronome Drills
- •Begin at 70 BPM to ensure every note in the add9 voicing rings cleanly without buzzing
- •Advance by 4 BPM only when you can complete 8 consecutive measures without hand tension
- •Practice with metronome clicking on sixteenth-note subdivisions to develop unwavering precision