Fast & Easy Ziggy Stardust Guitar Lesson (David Bowie)

Calling all space invaders! 

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to start rocking your guitar like David Bowie/Mick Ronson… then this post will show you how.

Using just a couple of chords and some powerful rock guitar techniques you can play this song in your cover band, at an open mic night, or even for a backyard party to amaze friends and family.

So tune up, and let’s dive into this “Ziggy Stardust” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Ziggy Stardust?

"Ziggy Stardust" is a song by British musician David Bowie, released in 1972. It is part of the concept album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars," which is considered one of Bowie's most iconic works. Bowie wrote "Ziggy Stardust," both as a song but also as part of a larger narrative for the album. The character Ziggy Stardust is a fictional androgynous rock star who acts as an alien messenger to humanity, bringing a message of hope amidst an impending apocalypse.

The song "Ziggy Stardust" narrates the story of the character, focusing on his rise and eventual downfall. Ziggy is depicted as a flamboyant, charismatic figure who captivates audiences with his music but eventually crumbles at the excesses of rock stardom. This all leads to his tragic end. The song explores themes of fame, identity, and the ephemeral nature of success.

David Bowie created Ziggy Stardust as an alter ego to explore the themes of identity and fame. The character was inspired by various influences, including the wild stage presence of British rocker Vince Taylor, the fictional rock star character of "A Clockwork Orange," and Japanese kabuki theater. Bowie's portrayal of Ziggy Stardust involved a distinctive look, including dyed red hair, futuristic outfits, and striking makeup, which became iconic.

This iconic track was recorded at Trident Studios in London, a renowned studio known for its high-quality equipment and acoustics. The album was produced by David Bowie and Ken Scott.

The song and album received critical acclaim and commercial success. The album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" has been cited as one of the greatest albums of all time, and "Ziggy Stardust" itself is considered one of Bowie's signature songs. The album reached No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 75 on the US Billboard 200. In 2017, "Ziggy Stardust" was included in the Grammy Hall of Fame, recognizing its lasting impact and significance in music history.

I saw Bowie perform this live at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles over two decades ago. His concerts in the early 1970s created a theatrical experience that blurred the lines between reality and fiction. The persona became so associated with him that Bowie eventually retired the character during a 1973 concert in London, announcing it would be "the last show we'll ever do."

If you want to play this song on guitar you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for Ziggy Stardust?

The tuning for "Ziggy Stardust" as recorded by David Bowie is standard tuning. Bowie performs the song live in standard tuning as well as on the original recording.

Standard tuning for a guitar is spelled out as EADGBE. 

Here are the strings: 

• E (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch) 

Let’s next take a look at the…

Ziggy Stardust Guitar Chords

If you want to play “Ziggy Stardust” on guitar you’ll need to know 12 chords G, D, C(add9), Bm, C, Em, A, A5, G5, F5, D5, and E5. 

Don’t worry all those chords might sound like a lot. But, the majority of them can be played as open chords and are relatively simple shapes. 

Let’s take a look at a few ways these chords can be played.

The main shape for G is played using all 6th strings like this: 

(Note: I often like to mute off the 5th string, see the video above for details)

D is played from the 4th string down like this:

C(add9) looks similar to the G chord just with a slight shift like this:

Bm is the first bar chord. This one is played in the 2nd position on strings 5 through 1 like this:

C is played from the 5th string down like this:

Em goes back to all 6 strings like this:

A is played from the 5th string down like this:

The rest of the chords are power chords. A power chord is a simple chord consisting of two notes: the root note and a perfect fifth. It's often played with an optional third note, which is a higher octave of the root. That is what we will be doing in this example. But power chords are neither major nor minor. They lack the third interval that defines a chord's tonality. This ambiguity gives power chords a versatile and robust sound for rock.

This also means… 

All The Rest Of The Chords
Use The Same Shape!

Yes, that’s right! We can use the same power chord grip and just shift it around the neck to play the rest of the chords. 

To best understand how this all works make sure to grab my free fretboard guide right here:

A5 is played in the 5th position like this:

Then just drop that down two frets and you’ve got a G5 like this:

Lower the G5 by two more frets and you’ll land on the F5 like this:

Then… the final two shapes shift the same power chord grip to now begin on the 5th string. D5 is like this:

Finally, the E5 hikes up two frets and goes like this:

There are just 3 main sections to this song, the riff, the verse, and the chorus. These chords cover you for all those parts.

What key is Ziggy Stardust in?

“Ziggy Stardust” as recorded by David Bowie is in the key of G major. All the chords have specific relationships to each other based on the G major scale. The G major scale uses the notes G, A, B, C, D, E, and F#. 

Let's explore how these chords relate to the key and the scale:

G Major (G)

Role: Tonic (I)

Notes: G, B, D

Description: The G major chord serves as the tonic or home chord in the key of G major. It provides a sense of resolution and stability.

D Major (D)

Role: Dominant (V)

Notes: D, F#, A

Description: The D major chord is the dominant chord in the key of G major. It creates tension that typically resolves to the tonic (G major), giving a sense of closure. The dominant chord often includes a major third and perfect fifth, contributing to its strong sound.

C Major (C)

Role: Subdominant (IV)

Notes: C, E, G

Description: The C major chord acts as the subdominant in the key of G major. It often precedes the dominant (D major) chord or returns to the tonic (G major). It provides a foundational harmony that supports the progression.

B Minor (Bm)

Role: Mediant (vi)

Notes: B, D, F#

Description: The B minor chord is the mediant in the key of G major. It shares two notes with the tonic (G and B), making it closely related to the tonic chord. It often appears in progressions that emphasize a softer or more reflective mood.

E Minor (Em)

Role: Submediant (iii)

Notes: E, G, B

Description: The E minor chord is the minor sixth (vi) chord in the key of G major. It introduces a more melancholic or introspective feel. This chord is often used in progressions that explore the relative minor of the key.

A Major (A)

Role: Secondary Dominant (V/V or V7/ii)

Notes: A, C#, E

Description: The A major chord is not diatonic to the key of G major because it contains a C# note, which is not in the G major scale (which has C natural). This chord often functions as a secondary dominant, specifically as V7 of the ii chord (D7 of Em) or as V of the V chord (D). It creates a sense of motion and adds variety to the harmonic progression.

F5

Role: Power Chord (bVII)

Notes: F, C

Description: The F5 chord is a power chord, consisting only of the root (F) and the fifth (C) with no third. In the key of G major, this chord is a bVII and is used in the chorus where the progression modulates to Am. 

Ziggy Stardust Strumming Pattern

The main underlying groove for “Ziggy Stardust” is a flowing 16th-note rock feel. Strumming 16th notes on guitar means dividing each beat of a 4/4 time signature into 4 parts.

To properly strum 16th notes, you need to understand how to count them within each measure. In a 4/4 time signature, each measure has four beats. When subdividing each beat into 16th notes, each beat is divided into four equal parts, giving us a total of sixteen 16th notes per measure.

To count 16th notes, you typically use the following syllables:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Here's how it breaks down:

1: The downbeat (first 16th note)

e: The second 16th note

&: The third 16th note

a: The fourth 16th note

When counting out loud, it sounds like:

"One e and a, Two e and a, Three e and a, Four e and a"

When strumming 16th notes, your hand should move in a consistent up-and-down motion. Here’s a basic pattern to get you started:

• Downstroke on the count of “1”
• Upstroke on the count of “e”
• Downstroke on the count of “&”
• Upstroke on the count of “a”
  

This continuous motion helps keep the timing steady and even.

Now, this doesn’t mean you should strum all of the 16th notes. This is just the “feel” of the song.

An example of a strum and riff in this style might go something like this:

Conclusion

To wrap it up, “Ziggy Stardust” by David Bowie is an iconic classic. The powerful opening riff combined with Bowie’s alien narrative and storytelling made this tune one of a kind. 

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs way faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide here right now: 

Jon MacLennan