Ziggy Stardust Intro Bass Run

[Brubass]

Hi All. My first post. I'm a born-again bassist returning to music after a 30 year hiatus. I'm playing with a mostly-for-fun cover band and am learning many new tunes. I don't have much in the way of formal music education, so please excuse my ignorance!

I have a mild dispute with our lead guitarist about the bass run in the intro of Ziggy Stardust. What I hear in Bowie's studio version and what is in all of the tabs is: G-D-C-B-A-F and then repeating.

My guitarist swears that the last note is an F# because the song is in the key of G at that point. But I definitely hear an F.

Does anyone else play Ziggy Stardust and if so, what note do you play?

[John Wentzien]

Sounds like an F to me...

[Darko74]

F. i played it in a few bands.

[tom5string]

I'm playing "F" in the intro. Although, when coming out of the refrain it's a F#.

Have a look at my transcription.

[Brubass]

Ok - that's exactly how I hear it to. Awesome transcription! Thanks!

[KPAX]

Re that song, I'd have to grab an instrument to verify one way or the other but being in the key of G doesn't mandate the F#.
It sounds like your guitar player knows just enough theory to get himself in trouble.
Very few rock songs use 100% diatonic chord progressions.

Originally Posted by Brubass

Hi All. My first post. I'm a born-again bassist returning to music after a 30 year hiatus. I'm playing with a mostly-for-fun cover band and am learning many new tunes. I don't have much in the way of formal music education, so please excuse my ignorance!

I have a mild dispute with our lead guitarist about the bass run in the intro of Ziggy Stardust. What I hear in Bowie's studio version and what is in all of the tabs is: G-D-C-B-A-F and then repeating.

My guitarist swears that the last note is an F# because the song is in the key of G at that point. But I definitely hear an F.

Does anyone else play Ziggy Stardust and if so, what note do you play?