Saved

Machinehead

Chords
4.770 votes
Get the app
App StoreGoogle Play
15
Original
Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams
1/146
Sound:
123456789101112131415eBGDAE3×11234
Step 1 / 146Position: 4
1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO open
Machinehead
------------
Bush - 16 Stone Album
Chords: (all power/5ths)
C#= x466xx
A = 577xxx (or x022xx)
E= x799xx
B = 799xxx (or x244xx)
D#= x688xx
F# = x-9-11-11-x-x
F#m= 244xxx
This is an interpretation of the song for jamming on a single guitar. Chords for all
rhythm sections included. There are some decent tabs out there for this song, but no
chord posts. This is a Bush song, so I won't try to overcomplicate it as others have. I
found the tabs extremely hard to follow. My goal is to eliminate all the guess work in
offering a complete and intuitive version.
Section Details
Intro/Main riff: | C#   D#>E >F | C#   D#>E >F# | C#   A| C#   A| (x2)
(moderately fast)
| C#   D#> E> F#| -------------+
:| 1 . & . 2 . & . 3 . & . 4 . & . | |
e|---------------------------------| |
B|---------------------------------| |
G|-6---6-x-8-8-/-9-9-9-x-/-11x-11x-| |
D|-x---x-x-x-x-/-x-x-x-x-/-x-x-x-x-| |
A|-4---4-x-6-6-/-7-7-7-x-/-9-x-9-x-| |
E|---------------------------------|: (x2) |
|
then... +---- play twice
|
| C#   A| |
:| 1 . & . 2 . & . 3 . & . 4 . & . | |
e|---------------------------------| |
B|---------------------------------| |
G|-6(6)6(6)6-x-x-x-----------------| |
D|-6(6)6(4)6-x-x-x-7-5h7-5h7-x-x-x-| |
A|-4(4)4(4)4-x-x-x-7-5h7-5h7-x-x-x-| |
E|-----------------5-5-5-5-5-x-x-x-|: (x2) -------------+
"(head, head, head, head-head)"
"Breathe..." (on last pass)
Verse: | C#| C#| A| A| (as needed)
("Breathe" Part shown, but same for all verse sections)
"Breathe..."
| C# | -------------+
:| 1 . & . 2 . & . 3 . & . 4 . & . | |
e|---------------------------------| |
B|---------------------------------| |
G|-6(6)6---x-x-x---6-4h6-4h6-x-x-x-| |
D|-6(6)6---x-x-x---6-4h6-4h6-x-x-x-| |
A|-4(4)4---x-x-x---4-4-4-4-4-x-x-x-| |
E|---------------------------------|: (x2) |
1)"in... breathe out... breathe" |
2)"in... breathe out... breathe" |
+---- play twice
then... |
|
| A| |
:| 1 . & . 2 . & . 3 . & . 4 . & . | |
e|---------------------------------| |
B|---------------------------------| |
G|---------------------------------| |
D|-7(7)7---x-x-x---7-5h7-5h7-x-x-x-| |
A|-7(7)7---x-x-x---7-5h7-5h7-x-x-x-| |
E|-5(5)5---x-x-x---5-5-5-5-5-x-x-x-|: (x2) -------------+
1)"in."
2) "Breathe..." (when repeating)
"Tied to a......" (before verse 1)
"Deaf, dumb, and..." (before verse 2)
Chorus: |E B |C# A* | (x4) *A not played on last pass, hold C#
| E   B| C#   A|
:| 1 . & . 2 . & . 3 . & . 4 . & . | 1 . & . 2 . & . 3 . & . 4 . & . |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|-9---9---9-x-x-x-----------------|-6---6---6-x-x-x-----------------|
D|-9---9---9-x-x-x-9-9--9--9-x-9-x-|-6---6---6-x-x-x-7-7--7--7-x-7-x-|
A|-7---7---7-x-x-x-9-9--9--9-x-9-x-|-4---4---4-x-x-x-7-7--7--7-x-7-x-|
E|-----------------7-7--7--7-x-7-x-|-----------------5-5--5--5-x-5-x-|: (x3)
1) "Got a ma--chine..... head!... Better than the.."
2)"rest. Green to red!.. Machine---head"
3) "Got a ma--chine..... head!... It's better than the.."
then...
| E   B| C#|
| 1 . & . 2 . & . 3 . & . 4 . & . | 1 . & . 2 . & . 3 . & . 4 . & . |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|-9---9---9-x-x-x-----------------|-6-----x-x-x-x---6~~~~~~~~-------|
D|-9---9---9-x-x-x-9-9--9--9-x-9-x-|-6-----x-x-x-x---6~~~~~~~~-------|
A|-7---7---7-x-x-x-9-9--9--9-x-9-x-|-4-----x-x-x-x---4~~~~~~~~-------|
E|-----------------7-7--7--7-x-7-x-|---------------------------------| (x1)
"rest. Green to red. Yeah!!!"
Post-chorus/bridge: |F#m |A | (x2 or x3, depending)
| F#m | A (x x x x)| (mutes on last pass)
:| 1 . & . 2 . & . 3 . & . 4 . & . | 1 . & . 2 . & . 3 . & . 4 . & . |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-4---4---x---4---4---4---x---4-/-|-7---7---x---7---7---7---x---7-\-|
A|-4---4---x---4---4---4---x---4-/-|-7---7---x---7---7---7---x---7-\-|
E|-2---2---x---2---2---2---x---2-/-|-5---5---x---5---5---5---x---5-\-|: (x2-3)
"I walk for my ma--chine."
Ending: (not right, but sounds cool/better than nothing...)
| E   B| C#(A) |
| 1 . & . 2 . & . 3 . & . 4 . & . | 1 . & . 2 . & . 3 . & . 4 . & . |
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
G|-9---9---x-------4---4---x-------|-6~~~~~~~~------(2)------/-------|
D|-9---9---x-------4---4---x-------|-6~~~~~~~~------(2)------/-------|
A|-7---7---x-------2---2---x-------|-4~~~~~~~~------(0)------/-------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| (x1)
then...
| E   B| C#|
| 1 . & . 2 . & . 3 . & . 4 . & . | 1 . |
e|---------------------------------|-----|
B|---------------------------------|-----|
G|-9~--------------4~--------------|-6~~-|
D|-9~--------------4~--------------|-6~~-|
A|-7~--------------2~--------------|-4~~-|
E|---------------------------------|-----| (end)
That's it, now here's the complete song with chords & lyrics...
***
Bush - Machine Head
Intro:
|C# D# >E >F |
|C# D# >E >F |
|C# A | (over "head, head, head, head-head")
|C# A | (over "head, head, head, head-head")
|C# D# >E >F |
|C# D# >E >F |
|C# A | (over "head, head, head, head-head")
|C# A | (over "head, head, head. Breathe..")
Verse 1: (each chord listed for a measure)
|C#  
Breathe in, breathe out
|C#  
Breathe in, breathe out
| A|A  
Breathe in
|C#  
Breathe in, breathe out
|C#  
Breathe in, breathe out
| A|A  
Breathe in
| C#| C#|
Tied to a wheel, my fingers gotta feel
A|A  
Bleeding through a tourniquet smile
| C#|C#  
I spin on a whim, as I slide to the right
| A|A  
I felt you like electric light
*(| C#   D#> E> F#)
|C#  
For our love
*(| C#   D#> E> F#)
|C#  
For our fear
*(| C#   A| C#   A|)
| A| A|
For our rise against the years and years and years
* can fit a single pass of intro riff over this section as alternative
Chorus:
E   B| C#   A|
Got a ma-chine-head, better than the
E   B| C#   A|
rest Green to red, machinehead
E   B| C#   A|
Got a ma-chine-head, better than the
E   B| C#|
rest Green to red (Yeah!)
F#m| A|
I walk from my machine
F#m| A|
I walk from my machine
[Intro Riff]
C#   D#> E> F#  
C#   D#> E> F#  
C# A
C# A
Verse 2:
Breathe C#in, breathe out
Breathe C#in, breathe out
Breathe AinA  
Deaf dumb and C#thirty
Starting to deC#serve this
ALeaning on my conscience Awall
Blood is like C#wine
Unconscious all the C#time
If I Ahad it all again
I'd change it Aall
Chorus:
EGot a BmachineC#head, Abetter than the rest
EGBreen to C#red, Amachinehead
EGot a BmachineC#head, it's Abetter than the rest
EGBreen to C#red, ..yeah
F#mI walk from my maAchine
F#mI walk from my maAchine
Verse 3: (just the breathe stuff and only 1 time)
Breathe C#in, breathe out
Breathe C#in, breathe out
Breathe Ain, breathe in, breathe Ain....!!!
Chorus:
EGot a BmachineC#head, Abetter than the rest
EGrBeen to C#red, Amachinehead
EGot a BmachineC#head, it's Abetter than the rest
E B C# A* * keep playing chorus through, with A chord
Green to red, ..yeah
EGot a BmachineC#head, Abetter than the rest
EGrBeen to C#red, Amachinehead
EGot a BmachineC#head, Abetter than the rest
EGrBeen to C#red, Amachinehead..
EYea yea Byea yea-C#yea. ABetter than the rest
EHead head Bhead head-C#head ABetter than the rest
EHead head Bhead head-C#head ABetter than the rest
E   B   C#(no A, hold C#)
Head head head head-head
F#mI walk from my maAchine
F#mI walk from my maAchine
F#mI walk from my maAchine
E   B   C#~ (A)
E   B   C#~~~~~
All chords in this song (7)

The story behind the song

"Machinehead" is a powerful track from Bush's 1994 debut album, Sixteen Stone. It's a song that captures the raw energy and distinctive sound of the band, a key piece of their early work. The music video, filmed in London and Portsmouth, even features Gavin Rossdale's dog, Winston, adding a personal touch to its visual representation. Playing this song feels like stepping into the driving, post-grunge landscape that Bush helped define.

AI-written from these sources:Machinehead (song) — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

About Machinehead Chords by Bush

Learn how to play Machinehead by Bush with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Machinehead chords”, “Machinehead guitar chords”, or “Bush Machinehead chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Machinehead chords and for experienced players who want accurate Machinehead lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C#, A, E, B, D#, F.

FAQ — Machinehead by Bush

How do I play "Machinehead" by Bush on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Machinehead" by Bush on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Machinehead" by Bush free?

Yes. The chords for "Machinehead" by Bush are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Machinehead" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Machinehead" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Machinehead"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Machinehead" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Machinehead" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Machinehead" by Bush with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Bush below.

What key is "Machinehead" in?

The chords for "Machinehead" show the original chord names (including C#, A, E, B, D#, F). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.