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Rebel Rebel

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1/25
Sound:
123456789101112131415eBGDAEO32O1234
Step 1 / 25Position: 1
1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO open
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie (1974)
Tabbed/Chorded By: Skidaddy, Esq., G.Q.
4/4 TIME @ 126 BPM (4 Min. 27 Sec.) in 'A'.
Chords Used:
-----------
GUITAR KEYBOARD
E   A   D   G   Be Bass| Chord
------------------ ----------------
Dsus2- x x 0 2 3 0 D A-D-E
E - 0 2 2 1 0 0 E B-E-G# ► Play full chord in 'BRIDGE', or
if you can't play the 'Riff'.
E6 - 0 2 2 1 2 0 E B-C#-E-G# ► Strum the chord if you
can't play the 'Riff'.
A - x 0 2 2 2 0 A A-C#-E
D - x x 0 2 3 2 D A-D-F#
Bm - x 2 4 4 3 2 B B-D-F#
D7 - x x 0 2 1 2 D A-C-D-F#
*** 'Signature' Riff TAB (Repeating 2 Measures: Measures 3 and 4) ***
Only play full 'Dsus2' chord as the opening chord. Repeat measures 3 and 4 for
the rest of the song for all 'INTRO', 'VERSE', 'CHORUS', and 'CODA' sections.
▼ = Down Stroke / ▲ = Up Stroke / 'p' = Pull Off
NOTE: On the '+' beat between counts 2 and 3 in the 2nd and 4th measures,
you can play the 'e' note on EITHER the preferred low 'E' string (e0),
or on the 'D' string (d2) if it's easier for you.
▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▲ ▲
e|Dsus20---0---------0-E|--0-------E6---E----|--Dsus2--0---------0-|-E-0---------E6---E--|
B|3-------3--2--0-|--0-----2-p0-----|--------3--2--0-|--0-----2-p0-----|
G|2-------------1-|--1----------1---|--------------1-|--1----------1---|
D|0---------------|------2--------2-|0---------------|------2--------2-|
A|----------------|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|
E|----------------|------0----------|----------------|------0----------|
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
[INTRO] [16 M]
1 2 3+4+ 1 2 3 +4+…
| Dsus2  E|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|… E6   E|
►Enter Drums
| Dsus2  E|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|… E6   E|
| Dsus2   E|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|… E6   E|
Do… do… do-do… do… do-do… do…
| Dsus2   E|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|… E6   E|
Do… do… do-do… do… do-do… do…
[Verse 1] [16 M]
| Dsus2  E|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|
You got your mo-ther… in a… whirl… She's not… sure if you're a
| E   E6   E| Dsus2   E|… E6   E|
boy or a girl… Hey,… babe,… your hair's al-… right…
| Dsus2   E|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|
Hey,… babe,… let's go out to-night… You like… me… and I
| E   E6   E| Dsus2   E|… E6   E|
like it… all… We like… danc-in' and we look di-… vine…
| Dsus2   E|… E6   E|
You love… bands… when they play it… hard…
| Dsus2   E|… E6   E|
You want… more… and you want it… first…
[Bridge 1] [4 M]
| A| D|
They put you down,… and say I'm… wrong…
| Bm| E|
You tack-y thing,… you put them… on…
[Chorus 1] [8 M]
| Dsus2   E|… E6   E| Dsus2   E|
Reb-el, reb-el,… you've torn your… dress… Reb-el, reb-el,… your
| E   E6   E| Dsus2   E|… E6   E|
face is a mess… Reb-el, reb-el,… how could they… know?…
►See TAB below for these 2 measures◄
| D| E|
Hot… tramp,… I love you… so…
*** CHORUS #1, #2, and #3 7th and 8th measures' TAB ('b' = Bend Up) ***
Hit 'g' note on low 'E' string just after 'so'.
e|D2---------------|E0---------------|
B|3---------------|0---------------|
G|2---------------|1---------------|
D|0---------------|2---------------|
A|----------------|2---------------|
E|----------------|0-------3b------|
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
[Re-Intro] [8 M]
| Dsus2  E|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|… E6   E|
Don't-cha…
| Dsus2   E|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|… E6   E|
Do… do… do-do… do… do-do… do…
[Verse 2] [16 M] 'Almost' the same lyrics as 'VERSE #1' -
| Dsus2  E|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|
Got your mo-ther… in a… whirl,… 'cause she's… not… sure if you're a
| E   E6   E| Dsus2   E|… E6   E|
boy or a girl… Hey,… babe,… your hair's al-… right…
| Dsus2   E|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|
Hey,… babe,… let's stay out to-night… You like… me… and I
| E   E6   E| Dsus2   E|… E6   E|
like it… all… We like… danc-in' and we look di-… vine…
| Dsus2   E|… E6   E|
You love… bands… when they play it… hard…
| Dsus2   E|… E6   E|
you want… more… and you want it… first…
[Bridge 2] [4 M]
| A| D|
They put you down,… and say I'm… wrong…
| Bm| E|
You tack-y thing,… you put them… on…
[Chorus 2] [16 M]
| Dsus2   E|… E6   E| Dsus2   E|
Reb-el, reb-el,… you've torn your… dress… Reb-el, reb-el,… your
| E   E6   E| Dsus2   E|… E6   E|
face is a mess… Reb-el, reb-el,… how could they… know?…
► See 'CHORUS' TAB… ◄
| D| E| Dsus2  E|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|… E6   E|
Hot… tramp,… I love you… so…
| Dsus2   E|… E6   E| Dsus2   E|… E6   E|
Do… do… do-do… do… do-do… do… .Do… do… do-do… do… do-do… do…
[Chorus 3] [12 M]
| Dsus2   E|… E6   E| Dsus2   E|
… Reb-el, reb-el,… you've torn your… dress… Reb-el, reb-el,… your
| E   E6   E| Dsus2   E|… E6   E|
face is a mess… Reb-el, reb-el,… how could they… know?…
► See 'CHORUS' TAB… ◄
| D| E| Dsus2  E|… E6   E|
Hot… tramp,… I love you… so…
| Dsus2  E|… E6   E|
You've
[Coda] [40 M]
| Dsus2   E|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|
torn… your dress,… your face is a mess… You can't… get e-nough,… but e-
| E   E6   E| Dsus2  E|
-nough ain't the test… You got your… trans-… mis-sion and a
| E   E6   E| Dsus2  E|… E6   E|
live… wire… You got your… cue… lines… and a hand-ful of ludes… You wan-na…
| Dsus2   E|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|
… be… there… when they count out the dudes… And I love… your dress,…
| E   E6   E| Dsus2  E|… E6   E|
you're a ju-ve-nile suc-cess,… be-cause your
| Dsus2  E|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|… E6   E|
face is a mess… So how could they know,… I said,…
| Dsus2  E|… E6   E| Dsus2   E|
how could… they… know?… So what-cha wan-na know?… Ca-
| E   E6   E| Dsus2   E|
-la-mi-ty's child,… chi-child,… chi-child… Where'd you wan-na
| E   E6   E| Dsus2  E|
go… What can I do… for you?… Looks like I
|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|… E6   E|
been there,… too… 'Cause you've torn… your dress,… and your
| Dsus2  E|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|… E6   E|
face is a mess… Ooh,… your face is a mess… Ooh,… ooh,… so
| Dsus2  E|… E6   E| Dsus2  E|… E6   E|
how could they know?… How could they know?…
| Dsus2  E|… E6   E| D7|… |

The story behind the song

"Rebel Rebel" was released in 1974 as the lead single from David Bowie's album Diamond Dogs. Written and produced by Bowie, the song is built around a distinctive guitar riff. This track has been described as Bowie's farewell to the glam rock movement he helped start and is considered a proto-punk track. It quickly became a commercial success and is cited as his most-covered song.

AI-written from these sources:Rebel Rebel — Wikipedia ↗David Bowie — Wikipedia ↗

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About Rebel Rebel Chords by David Bowie

Learn how to play Rebel Rebel by David Bowie with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Rebel Rebel chords”, “Rebel Rebel guitar chords”, or “David Bowie Rebel Rebel 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 Rebel Rebel chords and for experienced players who want accurate Rebel Rebel lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, A, E, D, B, Dsus2.

FAQ — Rebel Rebel by David Bowie

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Can I transpose "Rebel Rebel" to a different key?

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Is "Rebel Rebel" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Rebel Rebel" in?

The chords for "Rebel Rebel" show the original chord names (including G, A, E, D, B, Dsus2). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.