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Video Killed The Radio Star
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1/109
Sound:
Step 1 / 109Position: 2
1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO open
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuning: Standard
The chord sheet contains the basic chords which may be enough to strum
along on a guitar. It is a little difficult because often the chords are
not played on the beat but are syncopated (whenever the [Verse] chords are
The split chords in the [Verse] part may be played as regular chords, too
chords in the [Interlude] are essential and should stay.
In the tabs, I added the arpeggios, voicings and melody lines for anyone
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capo 1st fret
Play: C
Key: Db
For chords in original key, transpose +1 (and "use flats").
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Intro]
[Dm/F [C/E [Dm7 [Am
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|------5---------|------3---------|------1---------|----------------|
B|----3-----------|----1-----------|----1-----------|1-----0---------|
G|--2-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|2-----------2---|
D|3---------------|2---------------|0---------------|2---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
[Dm/F [C/E [Dm7 [G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|------5---------|------3---------|------1---------|3---------------|
B|----3-----------|----1-----------|----1-----------|0---------------|
G|--2-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|0---------------|
D|3---------------|2---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|3---------------|
[Verse] / [Bridge] / [Link 2]
[C/E [Dm [Gsus4 [G [C/E [Dm [Gsus4 [G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|--1-1-3-3-1-1-3-|3-1-1-0-0-1-3---|--1-1-3-3-1-1-3-|3-1-1-0-0-1-3---|
G|--0-0-2-2-2-2-0-|0-0-0-0-0-0-0---|--0-0-2-2-2-2-0-|0-0-0-0-0-0-0---|
D|2-----0---------|--------------3-|2-----0---------|-------------(3)|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|3---------------|----------------|3---------------|
[Solo]
[Dm/F [G [C/E [F [Dm/F [G [C/E [F
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|5---5-----------|----------------|----5-----------|----------------|
B|------8---6---5-|----------------|------8---6---5-|--6-8-----------|
G|--7-------------|--5-------------|--7-------------|------5---------|
D|----------------|------7---------|7---------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
[Dm/F [G [E/G# [Am [break]
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|----5-----------|----------------|
B|------8---6---5-|----------------|
G|--7-------------|--7---5---------|
D|7---------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
[Link 1]
[Dm/F [C/G [Dm7
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|------5---------|------3---------|------1---------|
B|----3-----------|----1-----------|----1-----------|
G|--2-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|
D|3---------------|----------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|3---------------|----------------|
[G [Am [F 8Am [F [G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|10—10b12r10-8-— 10b12r10-8---10--| (second guitar)
B|8---8b10r8--6---|8b10r8--6---8---| (first guitar)
G|----------------|----------------|
D|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHORDS (alphabetically)
E-A-D-G-B-e
Am9 x-0-5-5-0-0
C/E 0(3)2-0-1-0 or x-x-2-0-1-0
Dm/F 1-x-3-2-3-1 or x-x-3-2-3-1
E/G# 4-x-2-1-0-0
F* (t)1-x-3-2-1-1
F/A x-0-3-2-1-1
F(add9) (t)1-x-3-2-1-3
Fsus2 (t)1-3-3-0-1-1 or x-x-3-0-1-1
Gsus4 3-x-0-0-1-3
G/B x-2-0-0-0-3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Intro]
| Dm/F| C/E| Dm7| Am|
| Dm/F| C/E| Dm7| G|
[Verse 1]
C/EI heard you Dm/Fon the wireless Gsus4back in Fifty GTwo
C/ELying aDm/Fwake intent at Gsus4tuning in Gon you
C/EIf I was Dm/Fyoung it didn't Gsus4stop you coming Gthrough
[Bridge] (part)
C/E Dm/F| Gsus4 G|
(Ow-A-ow-a)
[Verse 2]
C/EThey took the Dm/Fcredit for your Gsus4second symphGony
C/ERewritten Dm/Fby machine and Gsus4new technoloGgy
C/EAnd now I Dm/Funderstand the Gsus4problems you can Gsee
[Bridge]
C/E(Ow-aDm/F-ow-a) GsusI met your Gchildren
(C/EOw-a-Dm/Fow-a) GsusWhat did you Gtell them?
[Chorus]
CVideo killed the Fsus2radio star
CVideo killed the Fsus2radio star
[Interlude]
CPictures G/Bcame and F/Abroke your heart
Gsus4Ow-A-A-A-Am9ow
[Verse 3]
C/EAnd now we Dm/Fmeet in an aGsus4bandoned studiGo
C/EWe hear the Dm/Fplayback and it Gsus4seems so long aGgo
C/EAnd you reDm/Fmember the Gsus4jingles used to Ggo
[Bridge]
(C/EOw-a-Dm/Fow-a) GsusYou were the Gfirst one
(C/EOw-a-Dm/Fow-a) GsusYou were the Glast one
[Chorus]
CVideo killed the Fsus2radio star
CVideo killed the Fsus2radio star
[Interlude]
CIn my G/Bmind and F/Ain my car
We Ccan't reG/Bwind we've F/Agone too far
Gsus4Ow-A-A-A-Am9ow
[Solo]
| Dm/F G| C/E F|
| Dm/F G| C/E F|
| Dm/F G| E/G# Am(break] |
| Dm/F| C/G| Dm7| G Am F| Am F G|
[Chorus]
CVideo killed the Fsus2radio star
CVideo killed the Fsus2radio star
[Interlude]
CIn my G/Bmind and F/Ain my car,
We Ccan't reG/Bwind we've F/Agone too far
CPictures G/Bcame and F/Abroke your heart,
C/G G F* Fadd9 Fadd9[break]
Put the blame on V T R
You C/Ea---Dm---Gsus4-re a Gradio C/Esta-ah-ah-ah-Dmah-ah-ah-Gsus4ar G
You C/Ea---Dm---Gsus4-re a Gradio C/Esta-ah-ah-ah-Dmah-ah-ah-Gsus4ar G
[Chorus]
CVideo killed the Fsus2radio star
CVideo killed the Fsus2radio star
CVideo killed the Fsus2radio star
CVideo killed the Fsus2radio star
[Outro]
CVideo killed the Fsus2radio star CVideo killed the Fsus2radio star
(You a--------------re a radio star)
CVideo killed the Fsus2radio star CVideo killed the Fsus2radio star
(You a--------------re a radio star)
(repeat and fade)
All chords in this song (17)
The story behind the song
"Video Killed The Radio Star" captures a bittersweet feeling about progress, looking back to a time when you "heard you on the wireless back in Fifty Two." The song reflects on how new technology and "pictures came and broke your heart," replacing the familiar sound of radio with the visual world of video. It's a poignant take on the changing landscape of media, where the past fades as the future takes over. The Buggles, an English new wave band, released this as their debut single in 1979, and it quickly became their signature song. At its heart, it plays like a nostalgic farewell to an era, felt through the lens of technological shift.
AI-written from these sources:Video Killed the Radio Star — Wikipedia ↗The Buggles — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗
Story time
Video Killed The Radio Star
Video Killed The Radio Star
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Video Killed The Radio Star
by Buggles
Chords in this song · guitar
Dm/F
C/E
Dm7
Am
G
Gsus4
Gsus
C
Fsus2
G/B
F/A
Am9
F
E/G#
C/G
Fadd9
Dm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuning: Standard
The chord sheet contains the basic chords which may be enough to strum
along on a guitar. It is a little difficult because often the chords are
not played on the beat but are syncopated (whenever the [Verse] chords are
The split chords in the [Verse] part may be played as regular chords, too
chords in the [Interlude] are essential and should stay.
In the tabs, I added the arpeggios, voicings and melody lines for anyone
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capo 1st fret
Play: C
Key: Db
For chords in original key, transpose +1 (and "use flats").
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Intro]
[Dm/F [C/E [Dm7 [Am
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|------5---------|------3---------|------1---------|----------------|
B|----3-----------|----1-----------|----1-----------|1-----0---------|
G|--2-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|2-----------2---|
D|3---------------|2---------------|0---------------|2---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|0---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
[Dm/F [C/E [Dm7 [G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|------5---------|------3---------|------1---------|3---------------|
B|----3-----------|----1-----------|----1-----------|0---------------|
G|--2-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|0---------------|
D|3---------------|2---------------|0---------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|3---------------|
[Verse] / [Bridge] / [Link 2]
[C/E [Dm [Gsus4 [G [C/E [Dm [Gsus4 [G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|--1-1-3-3-1-1-3-|3-1-1-0-0-1-3---|--1-1-3-3-1-1-3-|3-1-1-0-0-1-3---|
G|--0-0-2-2-2-2-0-|0-0-0-0-0-0-0---|--0-0-2-2-2-2-0-|0-0-0-0-0-0-0---|
D|2-----0---------|--------------3-|2-----0---------|-------------(3)|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|3---------------|----------------|3---------------|
[Solo]
[Dm/F [G [C/E [F [Dm/F [G [C/E [F
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|5---5-----------|----------------|----5-----------|----------------|
B|------8---6---5-|----------------|------8---6---5-|--6-8-----------|
G|--7-------------|--5-------------|--7-------------|------5---------|
D|----------------|------7---------|7---------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
[Dm/F [G [E/G# [Am [break]
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|----5-----------|----------------|
B|------8---6---5-|----------------|
G|--7-------------|--7---5---------|
D|7---------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
[Link 1]
[Dm/F [C/G [Dm7
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|------5---------|------3---------|------1---------|
B|----3-----------|----1-----------|----1-----------|
G|--2-------------|--0-------------|--2-------------|
D|3---------------|----------------|0---------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|3---------------|----------------|
[G [Am [F 8Am [F [G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|10—10b12r10-8-— 10b12r10-8---10--| (second guitar)
B|8---8b10r8--6---|8b10r8--6---8---| (first guitar)
G|----------------|----------------|
D|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHORDS (alphabetically)
E-A-D-G-B-e
Am9 x-0-5-5-0-0
C/E 0(3)2-0-1-0 or x-x-2-0-1-0
Dm/F 1-x-3-2-3-1 or x-x-3-2-3-1
E/G# 4-x-2-1-0-0
F* (t)1-x-3-2-1-1
F/A x-0-3-2-1-1
F(add9) (t)1-x-3-2-1-3
Fsus2 (t)1-3-3-0-1-1 or x-x-3-0-1-1
Gsus4 3-x-0-0-1-3
G/B x-2-0-0-0-3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Intro]
Dm/F C/E Dm7 Am
| | | | |
Dm/F C/E Dm7 G
| | | | |
[Verse 1]
C/E Dm/F Gsus4 G
I heard you on the wireless back in Fifty Two
C/E Dm/F Gsus4 G
Lying awake intent at tuning in on you
C/E Dm/F Gsus4 G
If I was young it didn't stop you coming through
[Bridge] (part)
C/E Dm/F Gsus4 G
| |
(Ow-A-ow-a)
[Verse 2]
C/E Dm/F Gsus4 G
They took the credit for your second symphony
C/E Dm/F Gsus4 G
Rewritten by machine and new technology
C/E Dm/F Gsus4 G
And now I understand the problems you can see
[Bridge]
C/E Dm/F Gsus G
(Ow-a-ow-a) I met your children
C/E Dm/F Gsus G
(Ow-a-ow-a) What did you tell them?
[Chorus]
C Fsus2
Video killed the radio star
C Fsus2
Video killed the radio star
[Interlude]
C G/B F/A
Pictures came and broke your heart
Gsus4 Am9
Ow-A-A-A-ow
[Verse 3]
C/E Dm/F Gsus4 G
And now we meet in an abandoned studio
C/E Dm/F Gsus4 G
We hear the playback and it seems so long ago
C/E Dm/F Gsus4 G
And you remember the jingles used to go
[Bridge]
C/E Dm/F Gsus G
(Ow-a-ow-a) You were the first one
C/E Dm/F Gsus G
(Ow-a-ow-a) You were the last one
[Chorus]
C Fsus2
Video killed the radio star
C Fsus2
Video killed the radio star
[Interlude]
C G/B F/A
In my mind and in my car
C G/B F/A
We can't rewind we've gone too far
Gsus4 Am9
Ow-A-A-A-ow
[Solo]
Dm/F G C/E F
| | |
Dm/F G C/E F
| | |
Dm/F G E/G# Am
| | (break] |
Dm/F C/G Dm7 G Am F Am F G
| | | | | |
[Chorus]
C Fsus2
Video killed the radio star
C Fsus2
Video killed the radio star
[Interlude]
C G/B F/A
In my mind and in my car,
C G/B F/A
We can't rewind we've gone too far
C G/B F/A
Pictures came and broke your heart,
C/G G F Fadd9 Fadd9
* [break]
Put the blame on V T R
C/E Dm Gsus4 G C/E Dm Gsus4 G
You a-------re a radio sta-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ar
C/E Dm Gsus4 G C/E Dm Gsus4 G
You a-------re a radio sta-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ar
[Chorus]
C Fsus2
Video killed the radio star
C Fsus2
Video killed the radio star
C Fsus2
Video killed the radio star
C Fsus2
Video killed the radio star
[Outro]
C Fsus2 C Fsus2
Video killed the radio star Video killed the radio star
(You a--------------re a radio star)
C Fsus2 C Fsus2
Video killed the radio star Video killed the radio star
(You a--------------re a radio star)
(repeat and fade)
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About Video Killed The Radio Star Chords by Buggles
Learn how to play Video Killed The Radio Star by Buggles with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Video Killed The Radio Star chords”, “Video Killed The Radio Star guitar chords”, or “Buggles Video Killed The Radio Star 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 Video Killed The Radio Star chords and for experienced players who want accurate Video Killed The Radio Star lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Db, Dm/F, C/E, Am, B.
FAQ — Video Killed The Radio Star by Buggles
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What key is "Video Killed The Radio Star" in?
The chords for "Video Killed The Radio Star" show the original chord names (including C, Db, Dm/F, C/E, Am, B). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.