On Broadway | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
||: Ab7 Gb | Ab7 Gb7 :|| x4
Verse 1
| Ab7 Gb | Ab7 Gb7 | Ab7 Gb | Ab7 Gb7 |
They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway.
| Ab7 Gb | Ab7 Gb7 | Ab7 Gb | Ab7 Gb7 |
They say there’s always magic in the air.
| Db7 B | Db7 B7 | Db7 B | Db7 D7 Eb7 |
But when you’re walking down that street, and you ain’t had enough to eat.
| Ab7 Gb | Ab7 Gb7 | Ab7 Gb | Ab7 Gb7 |
The glitter rubs right off and you’re nowhere.
Instrumental 1 (key change)
||: A G | G A :||
Verse 2
| A7 G | A7 G7 | A7 G | A7 G7 |
They say the women treat you right on Broadway.
| A7 G | A7 G7 | A7 G | A7 G7 |
But looking at them just gives me the blues.
| D7 C | D7 C7 | D7 C | D7 D#7 E7 |
‘Cause how you gonna make some time, when all you got is one thin dime.
| A7 G | A7 G7 | A7 G | A7 G7 |
And one thin dime won’t even shine your shoes.
Instrumental 2 (key change)
||: Bb7 Ab | Bb7 Ab7 :|| x4
Verse 3
| Bb7 Ab | Bb7 Ab7 | Bb7 Ab | Bb7 Ab7 |
They say I won’t last too long on Broadway.
| Bb7 Ab | Bb7 Ab7 | Bb7 Ab | Bb7 Ab7 |
I’ll catch a Greyhound bus for home, they all say.
| Eb7 Db | Eb7 Db7 | Eb7 Db | Eb7 E7 F7 |
But they’re dead wrong, I know they are, ’cause I can play this guitar.
| Bb7 Ab | Bb7 Ab7 | Bb7 Ab | Bb7 Ab7 |
And I won’t quit til I’m a star on Broadway.
Solo
||: Bb7 Ab | Bb7 Ab7 :|| to end
I won’t quit til I’m a star on Broadway.
No, no, no, no.
I won’t quit til I’m a star on Broadway
Do do do do…
On Broadway’s chords, progressions, bass line, and TAB
George Benson‘s version of that old The Drifters tune On Broadway has terrified guitar players for years.
Using just a simple V – IV style progression, On Broadway’s chords work as a platform for George’s insane improvisations.
Before we get that far, we have gone through two key changes and had a very unique take on the blues format where we over chord I and IV constantly move down a tone.
Members get a full chord analysis, TAB for the bass line and the chords that support the vocal and solo without getting in the way.
Here’s a link to the complete lesson (members only): On Broadway chord analysis and TAB.
Become a member today and get unlimited access to all my guitar courses, the SEPR practice route, and the eBook Spytunes Method – You can learn guitar!
On Broadway chords | Related pages
Five similar tunes
George Benson
With a career like no other, George Benson spent 1954-1976 mainly playing Jazz guitar before he signed for Warner and started singing.
Hits include This Masquerade, Breezin’, In Your Eyes, Give Me The Night, On Broadway, and an enormous amount of jazz standards.
George Benson On the web
The Drifters
With over 60 singers passing through the vocal group, they are amazingly still going, seven decades after the group was formed!
The Drifters‘ biggest tunes include Under The Boardwalk, Save The Last Dance For Me, Money Honey, Sweets For My Sweet, and On Broadway.
The Drifters on the web
Blues & Jazz
The foundation upon which popular music stands, Blues & Jazz tunes must be explored in depth by the serious guitar player.
Learn from the best by studying the greatest tunes of the genres. Study the iconic licks and melodies to grasp the language of these most important styles.
