Ashes to Ashes chords
by David BowieSong Key: Ab Major
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: 120 bpm
Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e
Skill Level: Beginner 🟢
Guitar Chords in G Major: G, G7, G#dim7, Am, Am7, A7, C, D, Dm, E, Em, F
Capo: 1st fret (to play with the video in Ab Major)
Play-Along Video & Chord Charts
Play-Along Video
R-H Chord Charts
L-H Chord Charts
Speed: x0.1
Ashes to Ashes
Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key
Am7 G Dm Am7 G Dm
Intro: 4/4 | | | | | | |
G
1. Do you re-mem-ber a guy that's been
Em
In such an ear-ly song?
C
I've heard a ru-mour from Ground Con-trol
D
Oh no, don't say it's true
F
They got a mes-sage from the Ac-tion Man
C Em F
"I'm hap-py, hope you're hap-py too
G
I've loved all I've need-ed love
G#dim7
Sor-did de-tails fol-low-ing"
A
The shriek-ing of noth-ing is kil-ling
E
Just pic-tures of Jap girls in syn-the-sis
G D
And I ain't got no mo-ney and I ain't got no hair | % |
F C Em
But I'm hop-ing to kick but the pla-net is glow-ing... glow-ing...
F G7
Chorus: Ash-es to ash-es, funk to fun-ky
C A7
We know Ma-jor Tom's a jun-kie
F G7
Strung out in heav-en's high
Am G Dm Am
Hit-ting an all-time low | | |
G
2. Time and a-gain I tell my-self
Em
I'll stay clean to-night
C D
But the lit-tle green wheels are fol-low-ing me
Oh no, not a-gain
F
I'm stuck with a val-ua-ble friend
C Em F
"I'm hap-py, hope you're hap-py too"
G G#dim7
One flash of light, but no smok-ing pis-tol
A
I've ne-ver done good things
E
I've ne-ver done bad things
G D
I ne-ver did a-ny-thing out of the blue, whoa whoa
F
Want an axe to break the ice
C Em
Want to come down right now
F G7
Chorus: Ash-es to ash-es, funk to fun-ky
C A7
We know Ma-jor Tom's a jun-kie
F G7
Strung out in heav-en's high
Am G Dm Am G
Hit-ting an all-time low | | | |
Dm Am7
Outro: ‖: My ma-ma said to get things done
G Dm
You bet-ter not mess with Ma-jor Tom
Am7 G
My ma-ma said to get things done
Dm Am7
You bet-ter not mess with Ma-jor Tom
G Dm
My ma-ma said to get things done
Am7 G
You bet-ter not mess with Ma-jor Tom : ‖... repeat to fadeArrangement Details:
- Key Signature: Ab Major - 4 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db)
- Chords in Ab Major: Ab, Ab7, Adim7, Bbm, Bbm7, Bb7, Db, Eb, Ebm, F, Fm, Gb
- Tempo: Moderate
- Metronome: q = 120
- Voice Range: C4 - Ab5
Beginner Guitarists:
- Skill Level: entails a fair knowledge of open chords.
- G#dim7: Looks scary but very easy to play. You'll find 2 voicings in the charts above.
- The first chart is the second inversion of G#dim7 leading with the D-note instead of G#. It's very easy to play and sounds great... and only 2 fingers!
- The second chart is the 3rd inversion of G#dim7 leading with the F-note instead of G#. This shape is very common with dim7 chords and can be used in a number of ways with different voicings.
- If you want to lead with G#, simply play the same shape as the 3rd inversion, starting on the 6th fret instead of the 3rd fret. 🥳
Song Details:

- Songwriter: David Bowie
- Lyrics Begin: Do you remember a guy that's been in such an early song?
- Genre: Art-Rock, Pop Rock, Art Pop, Dance-Rock, New Wave
- Featured Artist: David Bowie
- Single:
Recorded: February–April 1980
Released: 1 August 1980
B-side: Move On
Label: RCA - Album: Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
Recorded: February–April 1980
Released: 12 September 1980 - Covers: Warpaint, Something For Kate, Montaigne, A Perfect Circle, Tears For Fears, Jack Garratt, The Comptones.
