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David Bowie - Life On Mars Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsF, Am, Cm, D, Gm, A#, C, G#, E, Fm, C#, A, D#, F#, D#m, F#m, Dm, A#m
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
  • Guitar Cm chord diagram Fingering: x-3-1-0-1-3Guitar Cm chord diagram
  • Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
  • Guitar Gm chord diagram Fingering: 3-1-0-0-3-3Guitar Gm chord diagram
  • Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar G# | A♭ chord diagram Fingering: 4-3-1-1-1-x Barre at fret 1.Guitar G# | A♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram
  • Guitar Fm chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-1-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar Fm chord diagram
  • Guitar C# | D♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-4-3-1-2-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar C# | D♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
  • Guitar D# | E♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-x-1-3-4-3Guitar D# | E♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar F# | G♭ chord diagram Fingering: 2-4-4-3-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar F# | G♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar D#m | E♭m chord diagram Fingering: x-x-4-3-4-2Guitar D#m | E♭m chord diagram
  • Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram Fingering: 2-4-4-2-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram
  • Guitar Dm chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-1Guitar Dm chord diagram
  • Guitar A#m | B♭m chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-2-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A#m | B♭m chord diagram

[Opening]
[F]It’s a [Am]god-awful small affair [Cm]
To the girl [D]with the mousy hair
[Gm]But her [A#]mummy is yelling “No” [C]
And her daddy has told her to go [F]
[F]But her [Am]friend is nowhere to be seen [Cm]
Now she [D]walks through her sunken dream.
[Gm]To the seat [A#]with the clearest view [C]
And she’s hooked to the silver screen

[chorus]
[G#]But the [E]film is a saddening bore. [Fm]
For she’s lived [G#]it ten times or more.
[C#]She could [A]spit in the eyes of fools. [Am]
As they ask [C#]her to focus on.

[chorus]
[A#]Sailors [D#]fighting in the dance hall.
[Gm]Oh man! [F#]look at those cavemen go. [F]
[Fm]It’s the freakiest show. [Cm]
[D#m]Take a look at the lawman. [A#]
[D#]Beating up the wrong guy.
[Gm]Oh man! Won[F#]der if he’ll ever know.
[F] [Fm]He’s in the best selling show. [Cm]
[D#m]Is there life on [Gm]Mars? [F#] [A#] [C]

[Closing]
[F] [F#m] [Gm] [Dm] [Am] [A#] [A#m]
[F]It’s on [Am]Amerika’s tortured brow [Cm]
That Mickey [D]Mouse has grown up a cow
[Gm]Now the wor[A#]kers have struck for fame [C]
‘Cause Lennon’s on sale again [F]
[F]See the [Am]mice in their million hordes [Cm]
From Ibeza [D]to the norfolk broads
[Gm]Rule Britan[A#]nia is out of bounds [C]
To my mother, my dog, and clowns

[chorus]
[G#]But the [E]film is a saddening bore. [Fm]
For she’s lived [G#]it ten times or more.
[C#]She could [A]spit in the eyes of fools. [Am]
As they ask [C#]her to focus on.

[chorus]
[A#]Sailors [D#]fighting in the dance hall.
[Gm]Oh man! [F#]look at those cavemen go. [F]
[Fm]It’s the freakiest show. [Cm]
[D#m]Take a look at the lawman. [A#]
[D#]Beating up the wrong guy.
[Gm]Oh man! Won[F#]der if he’ll ever know.
[F] [Fm]He’s in the best selling show. [Cm]
[D#m]Is there life on [Gm]Mars? [F#] [A#] [C]

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SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on guitar.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master guitar today with the most repeated high-impact chord transitions.
ArtistDavid Bowie
AlbumHunky Dory
GenresPop, Pop Rock, Rock
Year1971
KeyF

How to play Life On Mars on Guitar (Step-by-step)

David Bowie - Life On Mars on guitar requires 18 chords and 33 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

Life On Mars uses these transitions most often: A# → C (6), Gm → F# (6), and A# → D# (4). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with F - Am chord transition.

1. F → Am chord transition

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram

To move from F to Am;

  1. While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
F to Am

2. Am → Cm chord transition

Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar Cm chord diagram Fingering: x-3-1-0-1-3Guitar Cm chord diagram

To move from Am to Cm;

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 2 to fret 1.
  3. Slide your ring finger from G string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on E string fret 3.
Am to Cm

3. Cm → D chord transition

Guitar Cm chord diagram Fingering: x-3-1-0-1-3Guitar Cm chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram

To move from Cm to D;

  1. While playing Cm, lift your pinky from E string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 1 to E string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
Cm to D

4. D → Gm chord transition

Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar Gm chord diagram Fingering: 3-1-0-0-3-3Guitar Gm chord diagram

To move from D to Gm;

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Keep ring finger on B string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on E string fret 3.
D to Gm

5. Gm → A# chord transition

To move from Gm to A#;

  1. Keep index finger on A string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger from B string fret 3 to G string fret 3.
  4. Lift your pinky from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.

6. A# → C chord transition

To move from A# to C;

  1. While playing A#, lift your pinky from B string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 3 to fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

7. C → F chord transition

To move from C to F;

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

8. C → G# chord transition

To move from C to G#;

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 4.

9. G# → E chord transition

To move from G# to E;

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger on A string from fret 3 to fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 4 and place it on D string fret 2.

10. E → Fm chord transition

To move from E to Fm;

  1. While playing E, lift your middle finger from A string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

11. Fm → G# chord transition

To move from Fm to G#;

  1. While playing Fm, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 1.
  3. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to E string fret 4.
  4. Place middle finger on A string fret 3.

12. G# → C# chord transition

To move from G# to C#;

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 3 to B string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 4 and place it on D string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on A string fret 4.

13. C# → A chord transition

To move from C# to A;

  1. While playing C#, lift your pinky from A string fret 4.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from D string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 2.

14. A → Am chord transition

To move from A to Am;

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.

15. Am → C# chord transition

To move from Am to C#;

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to B string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on A string fret 4.

16. C# → A# chord transition

To move from C# to A#;

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to D string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from D string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 3.
  4. Slide your pinky from A string fret 4 to B string fret 3.

17. A# → D# chord transition

To move from A# to D#;

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 3 to E string fret 3.
  3. Keep ring finger on G string fret 3.
  4. Slide your pinky on B string from fret 3 to fret 4.

18. D# → Gm chord transition

To move from D# to Gm;

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
  4. Slide your pinky from B string fret 4 to E string fret 3.

19. Gm → F# chord transition

To move from Gm to F#;

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 4.
  4. Slide your pinky from E string fret 3 to D string fret 4.

20. F# → F chord transition

To move from F# to F;

  1. Slide your index finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger on G string from fret 3 to fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 4 to fret 3.
  4. Slide your pinky on D string from fret 4 to fret 3.

21. F → Fm chord transition

To move from F to Fm;

  1. While playing F, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Keep pinky on D string fret 3.

22. Fm → Cm chord transition

To move from Fm to Cm;

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  3. Slide your pinky from D string fret 3 to E string fret 3.
  4. Place middle finger on D string fret 1.

23. Cm → D#m chord transition

To move from Cm to D#m;

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 1 to G string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 4.
  4. Slide your pinky from E string fret 3 to B string fret 4.

24. D#m → A# chord transition

To move from D#m to A#;

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 3 to D string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from D string fret 4 and place it on G string fret 3.
  4. Slide your pinky on B string from fret 4 to fret 3.

25. D#m → Gm chord transition

To move from D#m to Gm;

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 3 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from D string fret 4 and place it on B string fret 3.
  4. Slide your pinky from B string fret 4 to E string fret 3.

26. F# → A# chord transition

To move from F# to A#;

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 3 to D string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 4 and place it on G string fret 3.
  4. Slide your pinky from D string fret 4 to B string fret 3.

27. F → F#m chord transition

To move from F to F#m;

  1. While playing F, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Slide your index finger on E string from fret 1 to fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 3 to fret 4.
  4. Slide your pinky on D string from fret 3 to fret 4.

28. F#m → Gm chord transition

To move from F#m to Gm;

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 1.
  2. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 4 to B string fret 3.
  3. Lift your pinky from D string fret 4 and place it on E string fret 3.
  4. Place middle finger on E string fret 3.

29. Gm → Dm chord transition

To move from Gm to Dm;

  1. While playing Gm, lift your pinky from E string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
  4. Keep ring finger on B string fret 3.

30. Dm → Am chord transition

To move from Dm to Am;

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.

31. Am → A# chord transition

To move from Am to A#;

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 2 to fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger on G string from fret 2 to fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on B string fret 3.

32. A# → A#m chord transition

To move from A# to A#m;

  1. Keep index finger on A string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from D string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from G string fret 3 to D string fret 3.
  4. Lift your pinky from B string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 3.

33. A#m → F chord transition

To move from A#m to F;

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from D string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
  4. Slide your pinky from G string fret 3 to D string fret 3.

Life On Mars chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Life On Mars.

  • Life On Mars includes 90 chord transitions, 33 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Life On Mars contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Life On Mars connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → Am: 11%
    • F → Fm: 1%
    After Gm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (15%), F (12%), and Dm (9%).
    • Gm → Dm: 9%
    • Gm → A#: 6%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains from real songs. See which songs use each chain and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.