Space Oddity Guitar Lesson - David Bowie

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In this guitar lesson, I will show you how to play all the guitar chords to David Bowie's acoustic classic "Space Oddity".

This incredible song was released in 1969 and helped launch David Bowie to super stardom. There are just so many unique things about "Space Oddity", you will want to make sure you spend the time to thoroughly learn each chord progression in the song. You will be well rewarded in the end!

This Space Oddity guitar lesson will take you step-by-step through each chord progression as they appear in the song. I will also point out any repeats you may need to play with each progression.

You will find a couple interesting chords when learning "Space Oddity". Some of them can sound a bit dissonant when heard on their own. But, when you hear them in the context of the music, they are actually quite musical and unique sounding. It must of been nice to create music like this back in a time when bands or artists where allowed to take chances and create truly original music. There is certainly nothing formulaic about "Space Oddity".

Throughout all of the different sections, the most challenging chords you will have to play will be simple bar chords. These are just the standard major and minor bar chord shapes.

So I hope you guys have fun learning this acoustic classic from David Bowie. Not only is it one of the greatest classic rock songs, but it is a great chord workout as well. :)

Carl...

[sanborns]

Out of all the versions of this song on youtube land, yours come as close to the real deal. Thanks for posting.

[melodiemaker]

Very well done Carl and you are almost there, here some adds to your version to make it exactly as Bowie did play it in 1969. Mark the fact that Bowie used many times the same chordsform which he put on further on the guitarneck. Futhermore his thumb sticks to the low E-string the whole song through!
1. The 'Check ignition-part': D = Dadd9/F# (so you follow the bassline Am/a - Am/g- D add9 (open high e-string)/F# in the bass
2. The 'For here am I sitting"-part: The Em7: Bowie plays here again a "Fmaj7/F-form with his thumb (!) on the low E-string" and then slide it forwards to position 3 so basicly a G6/G and repeats this, so Fmaj7/F position1 slide towards a G6/G position 3 backslide to Fmaj7/F position 1 and further up again to G6/G!
And at last the Bflat Major7: well because he plays bass on the low E-string he goes to position 6. Then his thumb keeps on that string (Bflat) and the a-string is blocked (no sound) also by his thumb and than he produced an Am-form and finally he skips the high e-string (very difficult to do!) see 4:03 on included link. Cheers!

[sk_bort]

"Now we have some barre chords so I hope you're good at them."
-No.

[DutchZippy]

By far the most accurate (and fun to play) version on YouTube, thanks Carl!

[akgeezer]

Great lesson! That D dominate 7 makes that bridge part! I have not seen anyone else teach that, but when you hear it, you know it's right. Thanks for sharing!!!!

[paulroberts]

Hey Carl - Good one! I've checked out many attempts to teach this classic Bowie (my fav Bowie tune of all time), and this is probably the best, definitely the most complete. Thanks.

[thibsteven]

Great job my friend. Thanks for taking the time and showing us the song. I play this song in bars however; I'm changing it a tad because of you....You seem to be a cool guy....Thanks for putting a smile on my face. You're very talented and I hope you keep jamming! Peace---

[martinaseeburg]

please do more David Bowie. my favorite song is Ziggy Stardust. would be cool if you could do a lesson. 💓

[lauromoroder]

The overtones of this guitar are monstrous!

[realsoon]

Sadly, my fingers won't and probably will never be able to do the 5-string barre for the C, D, & E chords around 10:10. haha they just won't do it. I'll hurt myself trying, and then my 2nd finger won't stay in place. Won't be too much of a crime to just go to open chords there, I hope? Anyway, thanks for showing this, it makes figuring out the fretting much easier! (and the strumming is easy to follow along with and I'm not even a guitarist)

[cristianmanuelfuentesmaure]

Amazing lesson, master. Thak You a lot. Greetings from Chile.

[jeffmoore]

Excellent... Could'a thrown in that gnarly little riff in the solo as alittle bonus for kicks (one of my favorite acoustic riffs to play)

[jjcarter]

For me the Am/G chord was a nightmare!!! pinky was touching the A string all the time... so swap the pinky for the Thumb... and it was easier that way...

[fourseasons]

Awesome tutorial! It was very helpful for me. Btw, can you please do 'Wild is the wind'?

[luisanselmo]

Very accurate and fun indeed, but even though you teach all parts, putting them together in the right order can be a bit confusing. It would help A LOT if you would play the entire song at the end (or beginning) or have a link to chords with lyrics...

[trippiezi]

This is wonderful. Too easy. Got it already!!!!💖

[mana]

Another Space Oddity guitar lesson!! haha.

[johnzalus]

Thanks So Much for theses lessons, I have learned so much from them. Could you do a lesson for meadows by Joe Walsh, I have been wanting to play this for a long time, Thanks again

[Phillipdumont]

what about the rhythm/strum patterns though?

[moe]

Could you do some more Bowie like Rebel Rebel or Ziggy Stardust?