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David Bowie - Modern Love Chords

ChordsEm, C, Dm, G, Am, F, D
Strumming↓-↓↓↑

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

  • Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar Dm chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-1Guitar Dm chord diagram
  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram


[Em]I know when to go out. [C]And when to stay in.
[Dm]Get things done. [Em]”


[C]I catch the paper boy
But things don’t really [G]change
I’m standing in the [Am]wind
But I never wave bye[Em]bye
[F]But I [C]try, I [G]try [Em]


[C]There’s no sign of life
It’s just the power to [G]charm
I’m lying in the [Am]rain
But I never wave bye[Em]bye
[F]But I [C]try, I [G]try [Em]Never gonna fall for!


[C]Modern Love, Walks beside me
[D]Modern Love, Walks on by
[Em]Modern Love, Gets me to the [G]church [F]on [Em]ti[D]me
[C]Church on time, Terrifies me
[D]Church on time, Makes me party
[Em]Church on time, Puts my trust in [G]God [F]and [Em]ma[D]an
[C]God and man, No confessions
[D]God and man, No religion
[Em]God and man, Don’t believe in [G]mod[F]ern [Em]love [D]


[C]It’s not really worth
It’s just the power to [G]talk
Still standing in the [Am]wind
But I never wave bye [Em]bye
[F]But I [C]try, I [G]try [Em]


[C]Modern Love, Walks beside me
[D]Modern Love, Walks on by
[Em]Modern Love, Gets me to the [G]church [F]on [Em]ti[D]me
[C]Church on time, Terrifies me
[D]Church on time, Makes me party
[Em]Church on time, Puts my trust in [G]God [F]and [Em]ma[D]an
[C]God and man, No confessions
[D]God and man, No religion
[Em]God and man, Don’t believe in [G]mod[F]ern [Em]love [D]


[C]Modern Love, Modern Love
[D]Modern Love, Modern Love
[Em]Modern Love, Modern Love [G]Mo[F]dern [Em]lo[D]ve
[C]Modern Love, Walks beside me
[D]Modern Love, Walks on by


[Em] [G] [F] [Em] [D] [C]

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AlbumLet's Dance
GenresRock
Year1983
KeyEm

How to play Modern Love on Guitar (Step-by-step)

David Bowie - Modern Love on guitar requires 7 chords and 12 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.

Modern Love uses these transitions most often: C → D (8), D → C (8), and D → Em (8). 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 Em - C chord transition.

1. Em → C chord transition

To move from Em to C;

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

2. C → Dm chord transition

To move from C to Dm;

  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. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
C to Dm

3. Dm → Em chord transition

To move from Dm to Em;

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

4. C → G chord transition

To move from C to G;

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

5. G → Am chord transition

To move from G to Am;

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

6. Am → Em chord transition

To move from Am to Em;

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

7. Em → F chord transition

To move from Em to F;

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

8. F → C chord transition

To move from F to C;

  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. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.

9. G → Em chord transition

To move from G to Em;

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

10. C → D chord transition

To move from C to D;

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

11. D → Em chord transition

To move from D to Em;

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

12. G → F chord transition

To move from G to F;

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

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Modern Love.

  • Modern Love includes 84 chord transitions, 12 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Modern Love contains 7 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Modern Love connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (17%).
    • Em → C: 26%
    • Em → G: 18%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → D: 11%