It Runs Through Me
by Tom Misch
Difficulty Profile
Skill LevelOverall
AdvancedRhythm
AdvancedLead
AdvancedBass
IntermediateWhy "It Runs Through Me" Works Harmonically
Beyond standard guitar tabs and chord charts, discover the exact music theory mechanics, modal interchange, and voice leading choices that give Tom Misch's classic its unforgettable emotional power.
The Diatonic Cycle of Fifths and Minor ii-V-i Cadence in Neo-Soul Guitar Harmony
Tom Misch constructs a hypnotic 7-chord neo-soul loop that travels through a full circle of fifths in Eb minor. Moving through Bbm7, Ebm9, Abm9, Db9, Gbmaj9, and culminating in the jazz minor turnaround Fm7b5 to Bb7b9, the progression balances dark minor-ninth introspection with the radiant sunlight of relative major chords, all swung behind the beat.
Harmonic Progression (Roman Numerals)
v7 - i9 - iv9 - VII9 - IIImaj9 - iiø7 - V7b9Step-by-Step Movement
- •Bbm7 (v7): Minor dominant opening the loop with laid-back harmonic ambiguity.
- •Ebm9 (i9): Warm minor tonic chord with major 9th extension (F) delivering the signature neo-soul glow.
- •Abm9 (iv9) to Db9 (VII9): Steps through the cycle of fourths, acting as a secondary ii-V toward the relative major.
- •Gbmaj9 (IIImaj9): Radiant relative major chord providing a fleeting moment of sunshine.
- •Fm7b5 (iiø7) to Bb7b9 (V7b9): The quintessential jazz minor turnaround, creating harmonic gravity that pulls effortlessly back to Ebm9.
Voice Leading & Counterpoint
- ›Top-voice stepwise movement connects the chords smoothly: Bb → Cb → Db → Eb across the cyclical loop.
- ›Simultaneous four-finger chord plucking (thumb on bass, fingers 1-3 on treble strings) creates punchy, unstrummed percussive attacks.
- ›Playing slightly behind the beat produces the relaxed J Dilla / D’Angelo neo-soul swing pocket.
Fretboard Mechanics
Stratocaster Position 4 (neck + middle pickups) into a Fender Deluxe Reverb clean tube amp with subtle optical compression and analog chorus for a scooped, liquid chime.
Cycle your chords through fifths and fourths rather than sticking to static 3-chord loops. Introducing a half-diminished iiø7 chord before an altered dominant V7 gives any pop or soul track deep jazz sophistication.
The sweet minor scale with natural 6th used for neo-soul soloing.
Super Locrian scale for altered dominant turnarounds.
The modal heart of modern neo-soul guitar.
Ebm9, Abm9, and Gbmaj9 chord voicings.
Bbm7 and Db9 functional voicings.
The minor jazz turnaround Fm7b5 - Bb7b9 - Ebm9.
Musical Analysis
🎹 Key & Tonality
⏱️ Song Structure
💡 Understanding Eb Minor (sounding) / Gb Major:
Eb Minor (sounding) / Gb Major has a bright, uplifting character typical of major keys. The Dorian / Neo-Soul with full diatonic fifths cycle and altered dominant resolution mode gives it a stable, resolved feeling. This key works well for anthemic rock songs and creates a powerful, confident mood.
Primary improvisational and melodic scale; the natural 6th (C) gives the signature sophisticated neo-soul flavor without minor melancholy
Inflected during vocal call-and-response fills, injecting classic blues dissonance
Relative major framework governing the radiant Gbmaj9 and Db9 chord resolutions
Used over the Bb7b9 dominant turnaround chord to generate rich harmonic tension pulling back to Eb minor
The harmonic character shaping Eb Minor (sounding) / Gb Major
Understand minor chord construction and voicings
Primary Chords Used
Scale Patterns in Eb Minor (sounding) / Gb Major
Eb DorianEb Dorian
Notes: Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - C - DbNotes: Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - C - Db
Application: Primary improvisational and melodic scale; the natural 6th (C) gives the signature sophisticated neo-soul flavor without minor melancholyApplication: Primary improvisational and melodic scale; the natural 6th (C) gives the signature sophisticated neo-soul flavor without minor melancholy
Interactive Fretboard Map
Chord Progressions & Movement
Main Progression
Complete jazz cycle of fourths and fifths featuring a minor ii-V-i cadence and lush modern neo-soul 9th and 11th extensions
💡 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:
Bbm7
Ebm9
Abm9
Db9
Gbmaj9
Fm7b5
Bb7b9
Harmonic Functions & Roles:
- Bbm7 (v7)Minor dominant starting the progression on an ambiguous, laid-back mood
- Ebm9 (i9)Emotional minor tonic with major 9th (F) adding sophisticated neo-soul warmth
- Abm9 (iv9)Minor subdominant moving smoothly along the cycle of fourths
- Db9 (VII9)Dominant 7th acting as secondary dominant to Gbmaj9
Key Techniques
Fingerstyle Chord Plucking
AdvancedSimultaneous four-finger chord attack (thumb on bass, fingers 1-3 on treble strings) producing a tight, percussive pop
Uses chords:
Progression:
Simultaneous pluck across Bbm7 - Ebm9 - Abm9 - Db9
Technique Tips:
- •Keep finger movements compact—pluck upward into the hand rather than pulling away from the guitar
- •Mute the unplayed 5th string with the underside of your fretting thumb or index finger
- •Focus on making all 4 notes speak at the exact same millisecond
- •Use the flesh of the fingertips rather than nails for a warm, round soul attack
- •Practice with a metronome clicking on 2 and 4 to lock into the jazz backbeat
Rhythmic Displacement & Neo-Soul Swing
AdvancedPlaying slightly behind the beat with a subtle 16th-note swing feel inspired by hip-hop producer J Dilla
Uses chords:
Progression:
Swung pocket over Gbmaj9 - Fm7b5 - Bb7b9
Technique Tips:
- •Bob your head or tap your heel to feel the sixteenth-note grid inside your body
- •Do not rush to the next chord—let the silence between chords groove
- •Listen to J Dilla's Donuts and D'Angelo's Voodoo to internalize the swung micro-timing
- •Keep the right wrist completely relaxed to avoid rigid mechanical attacks
- •If you feel like you are dragging, check that your downbeats still line up with the kick drum
Double-Stop Hammer-Ons & Slides
IntermediateHendrix-style fourth-interval and sixth-interval embellishments decorating chord shapes with lyrical melodic movement
Uses chords:
Progression:
Double-stop embellishments over Ebm9
Technique Tips:
- •Apply even pressure across both strings during double-stop hammer-ons
- •Keep the slide fast and crisp—do not linger on the intermediate notes
- •Use light guitar strings (0.010 - 0.046) for effortless finger bending and sliding
- •Keep the volume of the embellishment slightly quieter than the main vocal line
- •Listen to Jimi Hendrix's Castles Made of Sand for the foundational technique origin
Practice Exercises
Scale and technique exercises in the key of Eb Minor (sounding) / Gb Major. Switch instrument sounds (Acoustic Steel, Nylon, Clean Electric, Piano) and practice at your own tempo.
Intro - Signature Neo-Soul Groove
Tom Misch 7-Chord Neo-Soul Loop
The instantly recognizable 7-chord neo-soul cycle showcasing Tom Misch's warm Stratocaster tone and syncopated four-finger plucking
- •Neck + middle pickup position creates the scooped, quacky Stratocaster chime
- •Pluck all 4 chord notes simultaneously with thumb and fingers 1, 2, 3
- •Behind-the-beat swing feel locks tightly with the relaxed hip-hop drum loop
Verse - Laid-Back Vocal Accompaniment
Verse Neo-Soul Comping & Fills
Intimate comping under the vocal verses with tasteful chromatic approach slides and double-stop ornaments
- •Softer dynamic attack to let De La Soul and Tom Misch's vocals take center stage
- •Subtle fourth-interval hammer-ons on the G and B strings between vocal phrases
- •Chromatic slide-ins from one fret below inject sweet soul character
Bridge - Chromatic Extension Movement
Bridge Ascending Voice-Leading Climb
Harmonic transition section lifting through major 7th chords before dropping into the altered dominant turnaround
- •Ascending chord voicings build emotional tension toward the chorus
- •Notice the smooth voice leading: the top melody line climbs stepwise
- •Fm7b5 to Bb7b9 creates the classic jazz minor ii-V turnaround
Outro - Extended Vamp & Guitar Solo
Outro Dorian Soloing & Octave Vamp
Expansive groove finale featuring Tom Misch's George Benson and John Mayer-style melodic guitar solo over the looping vamp
- •Eb Dorian scale provides the smooth minor-major hybrid soloing vocabulary
- •Wes Montgomery / George Benson thumb-strummed octaves for warm dynamic peak
- •Vocal-like string bending targeting the 9th (F) and 11th (Ab) chord tones
Equipment & Tone Setup
🎸 Guitar
Recommended Model:
Pickup Type:
Position 4 (neck + middle pickups in parallel) for the classic scooped neo-soul hollow chime
⚡ Amplifier & Settings
Recommended Amp:
Tone Stack Dial-In:
Gain: 3.5 (warm edge-of-breakup compression with soft clipping)
Treble: 5.5 (warm, rolled-off highs that never sound harsh or piercing)
Middle: 6.0 (full, singing midrange body to support single-note lines)
Bass: 4.0 (tight low end to sit cleanly on top of the bass guitar)
Presence: 5.0 (natural acoustic air and string touch response)
Alternative Amps:
🎛️ Effects Pedals
Overdrive / Distortion:
None or transparent overdrive (JHS Morning Glory / Ibanez TS808 on zero gain for mid boost)
Reverb / Delay:
Vintage 60s spring reverb emulation (1.5s decay, 20% mix)
Modulation / Other:
Optical compressor (Diamond / Keeley) set for slow attack and singing sustain; Boss CE-2W analog chorus in CE-1 mode
Recommended Learning Path
Master Extended Neo-Soul Chord Grips
⏱️ 3-4 weeks
- •Memorize the fretboard shapes for Bbm7, Ebm9, Abm9, and Db9
- •Practice forming the half-diminished Fm7b5 shape without buzzing strings
- •Work on thumb-over positioning on the 6th string for stable bass anchor notes
- •Shift between chord grips slowly at 60 BPM with clear note ring-out
- •Ensure the unplayed 5th string is cleanly muted during root-6 chord grips
Internalize the Laid-Back Swing Feel & Finger Pluck
⏱️ 4-6 weeks
- •Adopt the four-finger pluck technique (thumb + fingers 1, 2, 3 simultaneously)
- •Practice muting chords immediately after the attack for a tight percussive pop
- •Incorporate the behind-the-beat neo-soul swing feel with a metronome at 75 BPM
- •Add subtle chromatic approach slides from one fret below into major and minor grips
- •Record yourself playing to verify note balance and laid-back pocket placement
Incorporate Hendrix Embellishments & Soloing
⏱️ 6-10 weeks
- •Add double-stop 4th and 6th hammer-ons while sustaining chord root notes
- •Improvise over the Eb minor progression using Eb Dorian and Bb Altered scales
- •Master dynamic contrast between soft verse comping and expressive solo peaks
- •Incorporate Wes Montgomery thumb-octaves in the outro solo
- •Perform the entire song with natural improvisational flair and groove authority
Practice Notes & Routine
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- •Rushing ahead of the beat instead of sitting relaxed in the pocket behind the snare drum
- •Strumming with a pick instead of plucking all 4 chord notes simultaneously with thumb and fingers
- •Letting open strings ring unintentionally during half-diminished and altered chord grips
- •Using excessive distortion or overdrive which turns complex 9th and 11th chord extensions into muddy noise
- •Over-playing dense fills during vocal sections instead of serving the minimalist groove
⏱️ Targeted Practice Routine
- •10 minutes: Extended chord grip transitions with metronome set to 2 & 4 jazz clicks
- •15 minutes: Four-finger pluck and release drill focusing on crisp percussive cutoffs
- •15 minutes: Main 7-chord progression looping at 80 BPM building to 94 BPM
- •10 minutes: Eb Dorian and Eb minor pentatonic double-stop fill vocabulary
- •10 minutes: Solo improvisation over the outro groove backing track
🎯 Key Focus Areas
- •Behind-the-beat micro-timing and relaxed groove placement
- •Simultaneous four-finger chord pluck articulation
- •Clean half-diminished and altered dominant chord voicings
- •Stratocaster pickup selection (Position 4) and touch dynamics
- •Smooth chromatic approach slides
⏱️ Metronome Drills
- •Practice with metronome clicking on beats 2 and 4 only to cultivate internal swing
- •Start slow at 70 BPM to ensure every finger strikes precisely at the exact same instant
- •Increase to 85 BPM, focusing on relaxing the fretting hand during chord transitions
- •Target 94 BPM as the album tempo, locking into the drum kick-and-snare pocket
- •Practice at 90 BPM with exaggerated swing feel to deepen groove flexibility