Hi. This thread is about how David Bowie tries to "break the rules" in using chord progressions. I think it's true he tries to be rebellious in his music and throw in some unsuspected surprises. I'll start.

The direct and arbitrary key change. Unlike jazz, Bowie does not prepare his key changes. An example: Ziggy Stardust "so where were the Spiders?" In this line he goes directly from the key of G to Am. No apologies, no smoothing it out.

What do you think? How does Bowie break the rules with his chords?

There are only chord groupings - no rules, but a very clear idea of what works and what doesn't to the individual's taste. Learning an instrument is, in a way, limiting yourself. I'd say Bowie is spot on and not at all rebellious.

he stole it all from Chopin

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Isn't that section:

Am - so where
G - were the
F - spi
F/E* -ders
G
Am - while the
G - flies tried to
F/E* - break our balls?
G


I get Sam's point, though, but it's not because of using Am then G, they go together. What's unusual is the oscillating bassline *when he plays the F, the bass rolls back and forth between F & E.


Also, the song is in the key of G so the 3 major chords should be G, C & D (which are all used in the famous intro / outro guitar riff), so adding the chord of F is breaking the rules in a sense. I think using this technique gives the song more power as it feels brilliantly tense during these sections, which in turn makes the resolution back to the original chords sound even more harmonious. "ziggy played gui---ta-a- ar"

Ziggy Stardust also uses a few accidentals on the bass which makes it sound a little quirky in places.

I think Bowie had sax lessons when he was younger, but I don't know how much of an academic comprehension of music he had and I think this liberated him as he could approach compositions in his own way and kinda break all the rules without knowing he was doing so. Thinking outside the box, perhaps. Definitely a song-writing genius.

I always thought it unusual in John, I'm Only Dancing. In the chorus there is a change from Em to E

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Yes, it's those little unexpected things that gives a song its magic.

Take a song like "Quicksand". The chord changes in that one are nothing short of elegant, while being somehow understated at the same time. Lots of natural sophistication to his chord changes without trying. He's always had a great talent for melody. His stuff isn't paint-by-numbers by any means. Among many reasons why I turn to his music a lot more than I would other artists really. He's the s***e .

Even his later stuff applied these unique progressions.

"Looking For Satellites" has always been a fave due to this lovely habit, in particular that wonderful lift to the chorus.

"Satellites" is way fab. It also occurs to me that Mr. Bowie started out playing the saxophone, the consummate jazz instrument, instead of the guitar (the consummate rock instrument) so his ear may have been trained to hear more sophisticated (perhaps more abstract) chord progressions.

Do you remember your President Nixon?

Quicksand has all these diminished chords in them. Not exactly rock and roll stuff!

>>> Not exactly rock and roll stuff!<< <br>


Define rock and roll stuff?

Three chords and the truth, according to Mr. Strummer.

Do you remember your President Nixon?

Instead of mentioning all the Bowie songs where he messes with the 'rules', I thought it would be simpler to think of a Bowie song with no accidentals, unexpected chords or key /time changes. A song where if it was played in the key of C on a piano you wouldn't once touch the ebony keys.


I was busting up my brains for the chords and I finally thought of one... Rebel Rebel!

'D' 'E' 'A' 'Bm' and that's it. The only slight twist is that it's in the key of' A 'but starts with a 'D'.




I guess that's Bowie's most directly rock n roll song.

That's a very important twist, Alan. The entire verses alternate between E and D, although the song is in A. Interesting.

The song that always impresses me in terms of guitar is Starman - not so much the chords themselves but more the strumming pattern. I can play most of the stuff from ZS to a reasonable standard but this one I always have difficulty with. If I try and sing and play it at the same time it all falls apart. Shame really because it does have some wonderful chord sequences - in particular the chord run over 'let the children boogie' etc. Not too difficult to play but tricky to play right for some unknown reason. The Ronno Les Paul lead sound is so damn iconic in my opinion.

The Rebel Rebel riff is the one that made me want to play guitar in the seventies - it's glorious.

Personal favourites for playing along to.....

Queen Bitch
Little Wonder (with that fantastic 'train time' bit)
'Heroes'
Everyone Says Hi - Love that little riff in C at the beginning
Rebel Rebel,

and of course.....

Ziggy Stardust.

The one I'd like to master but haven't.....

Fame.