Starman chords
by David BowieSong Key: Bb Major → F Major
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: 102 bpm
Guitar Tuning: Standard (E A D G B e)
Skill Level: Intermediate 🟠
Chords: Bb, Bbm, C, C7, D7, Dm, F, Gm, Ab, A, Am
Chord Charts & Performance Video
R-H Chord Charts
L-H Chord Charts
Performance Video
Starman
Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key
Bb F Bb F
Intro: 4/4 | | % | | % | | % | | % |
Gm F
1. Did-n't know what time it was, the lights were low-ow-ow
C
I leaned back on my ra-di-o-o-o
C7 F Ab Bb
Some cat was lay-in' down some rock - n' roll "lot-ta soul", he said | 1+2+ 3+ 4+ |
Gm F
2. Then the loud sound did seem to fa-a-ade
C
Came back like a slow voice on a wave of pha-a-ase
C7 A G
That weren't no DJ that was ha-zy cosmic jive | | |
(There's a)
F Dm
CH: There's a star-man wait-ing in the sky
Am C
He'd like to come and meet us
C7
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
F Dm
There's a star-man wait-ing in the sky
Am C
He's told us not to blow it
C7
'Cause he knows it's all worth-while, he told me
Bb Bbm F D7
Let the child-ren lose it__ Let the child-ren use it
Gm C7
Let all the child-ren boo-gie
Bb F C F Bb F C
Instr: | | | | | | | |
Gm F
3. I had to phone someone so I picked on you-ou-ou
C
Hey, that's far out so you heard him too-oo-oo
C7 F Ab Bb
Switch on the TV, we may pick him up on chan-nel two | 1+2+ 3+ 4+ |
Gm F
4. Look out your window, I can see his li-i-ight
C
If we can sparkle he may land toni-i-ight
C7 A G
Don't tell your pop-pa or he'll get us locked up in fright | | |
(There's a)
F Dm
CH: There's a star-man wait-ing in the sky
Am C
He'd like to come and meet us
C7
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
F Dm
There's a star-man wait-ing in the sky
Am C
He's told us not to blow it
C7
'Cause he knows it's all worth-while, he told me
Bb Bbm F D7
Let the child-ren lose it__ Let the child-ren use it
Gm C7
Let all the child-ren boo-gie
F Dm
CH: Star-man wait-ing in the sky
Am C
He'd like to come and meet us
C7
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
F Dm
There's a star-man wait-ing in the sky
Am C
He's told us not to blow it
C7
'Cause he knows it's all worth-while, he told me
Bb Bbm F D7
Let the child-ren lose it__ Let the child-ren use it
Gm C7
Let all the child-ren boo-gie
Bb F C F
Outro: | | | | |
Bb F C F
| La la la |La la la la | La la la la | La la la la |
Bb F C F
‖: La la la la | La la la la | La la la la| La la la la :‖ (repeat to fade)
Arrangement Details:
- Key Signatures:
Bb Major – 2 flats (Bb, Eb) - Intro and Verses
F Major – 1 flat (Bb) - Choruses, Instrumental and Outro - Time Signature: 4/4 — Four quarter-note beats per measure
- Tempo: Moderately
- Metronome: ♩ = 102
- Voice Range: C4 - A5
- Chord Types in This Arrangement:
- Major: Bb, C, F, Ab, A
- Minor: Bbm, Dm, Gm, Am
- Dominant 7th: C7, D7
Beginner Guitarists
This song has been rated as Intermediate Level due to certain chords which are typically played as barre chords — Bb, Bbm, Gm, Ab.
If you haven't learned to play barre chords yet, there are some alternative voicings that are very handy to know:
Easy workarounds for Ab and Bb at the end of verses 1 and 3:We use the open F major shape for all 3 chords (top 4 strings only):
Right and left handed charts:
- F - starting on the 1st fret
- Ab - same shape starting on the 4th fret
- Bb - same shape starting on the 6th fret
Now, when you play F → Ab → Bb at the end of verses 1 and 3, you retain exactly the same shape, starting on the 1st fret (F) → 4th fret(Ab) → 6th fret (Bb).
Bb and Bbm: These chords may challenge you at first, but keep at it — with practice, they’ll soon feel natural and become a stable part of your growing chord repertoire.
Gm: Very easy with just one finger (small barre), and if you find this comfortable, you are ready to learn barre chords.
Left-handed Charts:
🎶Try and remember these voicings for typically played barre chords, as it will get you out of trouble time and time again - and in some cases you may prefer using them, especially the F-shape.
🎶 Tip: If you are ever playing F major followed by G major, it's handy to use this shape - a simple 2 fret slide from the F shape on the 1st fret to the same shape on the 3rd fret - G major. 🥳
Song Details:
- Songwriters: David Bowie
- Date: 1972
- Lyrics Begin: Didn't know what time it was, the lights were low
- Genre: Glam rock
- Featured Artist: David Bowie
- Single:
Recorded: 4 February 1972
Released: 28 April 1972
B-side: Suffragette City - Album: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Recorded: 8 November 1971 – 4 February 1972
Released: 16 June 1972
Other songs by David Bowie you may like
| Song | Capo | Key | Core Chords |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashes To Ashes | +1 | G | G, G7, G#dim7, Am, Am7, A7, C, D, Dm, E, Em, F |
| Changes | - | C | C, Cmaj7, Db6, Dbmaj7, D, Dm7, Eb7, Ebm7, Em, Em7, F, Fmaj7, G, G7, G11, G13, Am, Bbsus2 |
| Golden Years | - | F# | F#, G, Am, A#dim7, Bm, C, D, E, Em7 |
| Heroes | - | D | D, Em, G, Am, C |
| Lazarus | - | Am | Am, C, D, F, G |
| Life on Mars | - | Bb | Bb, Bbm, C7, Cm, Caug, Db7, D, Ddim7, Eb, Ebm7, F, Fm, F#aug, F#dim7, Gm, Ab, Ab7, Am, Aaug |
| Space Oddity | - | C | C, C9#11, D, D7, E, E7, E7b9, Em, Em7, F, Fmaj7, Fm, G, A, Am, Am7, Bbmaj7 |
| Suffragette City | - | A | A, B, C, D, E, F, G |
| The Man Who Sold The World | - | Dm | Dm, F, Gm, A7, Bbm, C |
