Starman | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
||: Bb(#11) | Bb(#11) | Fmaj7 | Fmaj7 :||
La, la, la. La la, la. La, la, la. Goodbye love.
Verse 1
| Gm | Gm |
Didn’t know what time it was and the lights were low,
| F | F | C | C7 | F Ab Bb |
I leaned back on my radio, some cat was layin’ down some rock ‘n’ roll, ‘lotta soul he said.
| Gm | Gm |
Then the loud sound did seem to fade,
| F | F | C | C7 | A | Gadd9 |
came back like a slow voice on a wave of phase, that weren’t no D.J. that was crazy cosmic jive.
Chorus 1
| F | Dm |
There’s a Starman waiting in the sky,
| Am Am/G | C C7 |
he’d like to come and meet us, but he thinks he’d blow our minds.
| F | Dm |
There’s a Starman waiting in the sky,
| Am Am/G | C C7 |
he’s told us not to blow it, ’cause he knows it’s all worthwhile. He told me:
Chorus tag 1
| Bb Bbm | F D7 | Gm C |
Let the children lose it, let the children use it, let all the children boogie.
Instrumental 1
| Bb | F | C | F | Bb | F | C |
Verse 2
I had to phone someone so I picked on you.
Hey, that’s far out so you heard him too? Switch on the TV we may pick him up on channel 2.
Look out your window I can see his light.
If we can sparkle he may land tonight, don’t tell your poppa or he’ll get us locked up in fright.
Chorus 2
There’s a Starman waiting in the sky,
he’d like to come and meet us, but he thinks he’d blow our minds.
A Starman is waiting in the sky,
he’s told us not to blow it, ’cause he knows it’s all worthwhile.
Chorus tag 2
He told me: Let the children lose it, let the children use it, let all the children boogie.
Chorus 3
Starman waiting in the sky,
he’d like to come and meet us, but he thinks he’d blow our minds.
There’s a Starman waiting in the sky,
he’s told us not to blow it, ’cause he knows it’s all worthwhile.
Chorus tag 3
He told me: Let the children lose it, let the children use it, let all the children boogie.
Outro
||: Bb | F | C | F/C :||
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la…
Starman Chords: How Bowie’s Harmony Creates a Timeless Classic
The chords in Starman are remarkable, with the intro featuring the distinctive Bb(#11) chord:
||: Bb(#11) | Bb(#11) | Fmaj7 | Fmaj7 :||
Starting a song with an unusual chord like this is a clever way to make it instantly recognisable—especially when heard on the radio.
The verse follows a more traditional II – I – V progression, though I use an open-position Gm, which is quite rare (David Bowie doesn’t do this).
| Gm (II) | Gm | F (I) | F | C (V) | C7 | F (I) Ab (bIIIx) Bb (IV) |
| Gm | Gm | F | F | C | C7 | A (IIIx) | Gadd9 (IIx) |
The bIIIx and IIIx chords add an offbeat, quirky feel—perfectly in line with David Bowie’s signature sound.
For the chorus, we get a IVm chord (Bbm), which adds a melancholic twist. Here’s the full progression with Roman numerals:
||: F (I) | Dm (VI) | Am (III) Am/G (III/7) | C (V) C7 :||
| Bb (IV) Bbm (IVm) | F (I) D7 (VIx) | Gm (II) C (V) |
The instrumental section begins on the IV chord, giving the sense of moving somewhere new. The melody starts on the 3rd of each chord, which we practice in all positions in the course.
||: Bb | F | C | F/C :||
Later, the vocals join in with the instrumental melody, singing “la-la-la-la-laa.”
Understanding the Chord Extensions
- Bb(#11) – A standard major chord with an added #11 (open E string). It could also be called Bbadd#11.
- Fmaj7 – An F chord with the maj7 added on top (open E string).
- Gm – An open-position Gm, an unusual choice. (Bowie doesn’t use this shape, but I like it!)
- C7 – A dominant 7th version of the V chord.
- Gadd9 – The IIx chord with an added 9 extension.
- Am/G – An Am chord with its 7th (G) in the bass—compare this to Sunny Afternoon.
- D7 – A standard open-position D chord extended to a dominant 7th.
Here’s a chord chart for Starman.
Starman Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro
If you’d like to download this chart, here’s a PDF: Starman chord chart PDF.
This chart was created using iRealPro—here’s the file: Starman chord chart iReal Pro. With the iRealPro app, you can change the key and adjust the layout as needed.
In the course, we dive deeper into the song with TAB and play-along loops. Below is a preview where we break down that unmistakable intro.
Once you play it, it’s clear that David Bowie came up with it by shifting his hand from Fmaj7 up to Bb, creating that distinctive Lydian sound—Bb(#11)… or is it Bbadd#11?
Starman TAB | Course Preview
Once you’ve heard it, you know it’s Starman—no other song uses this distinctly Lydian chord!
Above, you’ll find a play-along loop of the intro. Here’s the TAB for it:
In the course, we break down the verse, chorus, and tag in the same way, with full TAB and play-along loops for each section. Step by step, we work through every part of Starman.
Not all of Starman‘s chords fit neatly into the key of F major—some go outside it. We explore this in depth throughout the course.
Here’s a link to the 8 step-by-step guitar lessons: Starman – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Starman was almost replaced by a Chuck Berry cover!
Starman is a single from David Bowie‘s legendary 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.
Initially, Bowie hadn’t planned to include the song on the album—he wanted to feature a Chuck Berry cover instead. However, his A&R man insisted Starman would be a hit. When it climbed to #10 on the charts and helped push the album to #5, it was clear that decision had been the right one.
A concept album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars explores the highs and lows of rock stardom, from excess and self-destruction to adoring fans who ultimately turn on their idol. Bowie drew inspiration from various artists, but Jimi Hendrix was perhaps the clearest influence on his fictional Ziggy character.
Recording for the album began just weeks after Hunky Dory was completed, marking two back-to-back legendary releases. These albums cemented David Bowie as one of the biggest rock stars of the early ’70s.
Since its release, both Ziggy Stardust and its songs have appeared on countless “greatest ever” lists, consistently ranking in the top 50.
Starman Chords: Continue Learning
It’s not just the opening chord of Starman that stands out—the open-position Gm chord is quite unusual too.
After learning the song in three steps, we’ll dive deeper into the CAGED system, exploring both the chords and the vocal melody.
Start learning with the full lesson series: Starman – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy: