Ziggy Stardust

David Bowie

Tom: C

Bowie's original intro is pretty simple, but very nice on 12-string.


e|--3-----2--3--2--3--2--3-----0--------------0--------------0-----------|
B|--3-----3-----3-----3--3-----3--------3-----3--------3-----1-----0-----|
G|--4-----2-----2-----2--2-----0--------0-----0--------0-----2-----0-----|
D|--5-----0-----------0--0-----2--------2-----0--------0-----2-----0-----|
A|--x--------------------------3--------------2--------------0-----------|
E|--3--------------------------------------------------------------------|
            H     H  *


* = hold an extra half-beat
H = hammer on from second to third fret

Transition

----------

The transition between C and D during "the Spiders from Mars" and
subsequent verses goes something like this:


   C                                D
e|------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------|
D|-----2-----2-----0-----2------------|
A|-----3-----3-----2-----3-----4------|
E|------------------------------------|
      the   Spi   ders...


Chorus

------

Repeat 3 times:


   A             G               F             G
e|--5-5-5-5-5-----3-3-3-3-3-------1-1-1-1-1-1-1-3---|
B|--5-5-5-5-5-----3-3-3-3-3-------1-1-1-1-1-1-1-3---|
G|--6-6-6-6-6-----4-4-4-4-4-------2-2-2-2-2-2-2-4---|  
D|--7-7-7-7-7-----5-5-5-5-5-------3-3-3-3-3-3-3-5---|      
A|--7-7-7-7-7-----5-5-5-5-5-------3-3-3-3-3-3-3-5---|       
E|--5-5-5-5-5-----3-3-3-3-3-------1-0-1-0-1-0-1-3---| 
           

then:


   D                      E             
e|--5---x-5---x-5----------7---7-7-7-7-7-----|
B|--7---x-7---x-7----------9---9-9-9-9-9-----|
G|--7---x-7---x-7----------9---9-9-9-9-9-----|  
D|--7---x-7---x-7----------9---9-9-9-9-9-----|      
A|--5---x-5---x-5----------7---7-7-7-7-7-----|        
E|--5---x-5---x-5----------7---7-7-7-7-7-----|  
   *     *     **         *           **


* = hold an extra half-beat
** = hold until the end of the next measure

This is one suggested pattern, but it varies, so improvise.
(My personal preference is to play the D and E in open position.)
On the acoustic and live versions, Bowie and Ronson continue
strumming on the D and E chords.  Bowie also sometimes noodles
around with his pinky on the B string on the D and E chords.
On electric, emphasize the lower (thicker) strings, especially
to get the right sound during the F chord.  The acoustic version
tends to emphasize the upper (thinner) strings.  

Lyrics and chords

-----------------


(Intro x 4, or Intro x 2 in acoustic version)

G                     Bm C
Ziggy played guitar...

(trans) D
G Em
A A7 C
G Bm C
(trans) D
G Em
A A7 C

A  G            F G
So where were...
A G F G
A G F G
D E

(Intro x 2)

G                      Bm C
Ziggy played for time...
(trans) D
G Em
A A7 C

A      G     F G
Making love...
A G F G
A G F G
D E

(Intro x 3) then:


e|--3-----2--3--2--3--2--------0--------------------------------3-----|
B|--3-----3--3--3--3--3--3-----3--------------------------------3-----|
G|--0-----2-----------2--2-----0--------------------------------0-----|
D|--0-----0-----------0--0-----2--------------------------------0-----|
A|--x--------------------------3--------------------------------x-----|
E|--3-----------------------------------------------------------3-----|