Chords + Lyrics | Le Freak
Intro
One, two.
Chorus 1
||: Am7 | D9 | Am7 | D9 :||
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Verse 1
||: Am7 | D9 :||
Have you heard about the new dance craze?
Listen to us, I’m sure you’ll be amazed.
Big fun to be had by everyone.
It’s up to you, it surely can be done.
Verse 2
Young and old are doing it, I’m told.
Just one try and you too will be sold.
It’s called ‘Le Freak’, they’re doing it night and day.
Allow us, we’ll show you the way.
Chorus 2
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Verse 3
All that pressure got you down.
Has your head been spinning all around?
Feel the rhythm, check the rhyme.
Come on along and have a real good time.
Verse 4
Like the days, ah, of Stomping at the Savoy.
Now we freak, oh, what a joy.
Just come on down to the 54.
Find your spot out on the floor.
Chorus 3
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Ah, freak out!. Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Instrumental
||: Am7 | Am7 | D7 | D7 :|| x8
Now freak. I said freak. Now freak.
Verse 5
All that pressure got you down.
Has your head been spinning all around?
Feel the rhythm, check the rhyme.
Come on along and have a real good time.
Verse 6
Like the days, ah, of Stomping at the Savoy.
Now we “reak, oh, what a joy.
Just come on down to the 54.
Find your spot out on the floor.
Chorus 4
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Outro Chorus
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Ah, freak out! Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!
Le Freak Backing Tracks | Chord Analysis
Above, you’ll find backing tracks to use when learning Le Freak. I’ve used stem separation to extract the guitar while keeping the drums, bass, keys, strings, and vocals intact.
After studying the chords and TAB, use my backing tracks to prepare for playing this tune with a band.
Should you want to play along with the original recording instead, you need to tune your guitar sharp to 442Hz. In the backing tracks, I’ve done this job for you by tuning it to 440Hz.
Chord Progressions – What’s Going On?
At its core, Le Freak is built on a II–V progression—one of the strongest movements for getting people dancing. Here it’s Am7 – D9.
The same movement appears in other classics like Good Times (Em7 – A7) and Stevie Wonder’s I Wish (Ebm7 – Ab7).
Notice how the context changes everything: in a ballad like Mad World, a II–V feels reflective; in Le Freak, it’s pure energy.
To nail the song, it’s not just about the progression—it’s about voicing the chords in the right register, with the right amount of notes, played with razor-sharp rhythm. That’s where TAB becomes essential, find it further down this guitar lesson.
Once the TAB is absorbed, use this chord chart (and backing tracks above) to get your freak on!
Le Freak Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Even though the chart looks simple, it doubles as a roadmap for the song’s arrangement. With hundreds of tunes in your repertoire, it’s easy to forget small but important details mid-set—like the fact that the instrumental section switches to D7, not D9.
Downloads:
Think of the chart as a safety net: it frees your mind to focus on groove and energy without worrying about missing a detail.
Le Freak | TAB
There aren’t too many sections, and by Nile Rodgers’ standards, not much variation either!
This makes Le Freak perhaps the best introduction to playing in this style. Let’s look at all the TAB, starting with the main riff.
Verse + Chorus
This is the main chord riff, which covers the verse, chorus, and intro. Notice how it feels strange at first—it only makes sense once you loop it!
The D chord is played as a D, then a D9. Finally, I should have added little dots above the 8th notes, as every single note here is “played short”. To achieve this, always release the fretting hand pressure as soon as you play any of these notes.
This chord riff should be played similar to Soul Man—as a set riff, not a starting point for funky improvisation.
Bridge
The bridge, on the other hand, can be manipulated. Here’s a starting point:
Feel free to change the chord shapes here, remove strums, or add more. I guess the best way to put it is: Freak Out!
Aimed for a Dance Craze
Released in 1978 on C’est Chic, Le Freak became an international hit, topping the U.S. chart for seven weeks and selling over 4 million copies.
It followed in the tradition of dance-craze singles like Do You Love Me, Get Ready, Greased Lightning, The Twist, YMCA, Billie Jean and Thriller, Later, Macarena, Single Ladies, and Gangnam Style carried on the trend.
Unlike some of those, Le Freak never defined the moves explicitly—leaving it up to the crowd to interpret. The music video at teh top of this guitar lesson shows the band observing and clapping along, inviting the audience to make the dance their own.
For a disco or party band, Le Freak is a guaranteed way to get people moving, making it one of the smartest picks for a live setlist.
Le Freak Chords: Continue Learning
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