Let’s Dance | TAB
There are only two sections to learn but since they are so defined, you must get them right.
Start with Nile’s rhythm part as this is the most important. Getting the chords right isn’t enough, it has to be the right inversions too, so let’s use TAB.
The instrumental, verse and chorus are all the same.
On the record, he’s using delay but this would be too complicated live so I’ve written it with the rhythm the delay is creating. Notice the little dots above the 8th notes, these mean “play short” (as 16th notes).
That Bb7sus4 and Bbm6 were chord II, so Dorian. This makes chord I an Ab. This is what the bridge starts with, like this:
| Ab | Ab | Db Eb | Db Eb |
| Ab | Ab | Db/Eb Eb | Db/Eb Eb |
| Ab | Fm | Db |
| Eb | Eb/G | Eb/Bb | Eb |
The first line is just I – IV – V. The second line is the same, although the bass goes straight to V, making it a Db/Eb chord. This could also be described as an Eb11.
The third line is a super standard I – VI – IV. When we hit the expected V chord (Eb) we are repeating what happened during the intro (Twist & Shout, Do You Love Me).
Play this section using long, held chords.
Having listened to the recording in-depth, transcribed the rhythm guitar and listened to the back story of how this was all put together (video 2 in the playlist above) it’s clear that Nile is a hit arranging genius, I guess that’s why he named his guitar just that – The Hitmaker!
It’s not Nile playing the blues licks by the way, that’s Stevie Ray Vaughan. David Bowie, Nile Rodgers, and Stevie Ray Vaughan – who knew that combination would work!?!
Let’s Dance TAB | Related Pages
Let’s Dance | Chords + Lyrics
Learn to play Let’s Dance by David Bowie using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
||: Bb7sus4 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C | Gb6 | N.C | Bbm6 | N.C :||
Let’s dance. Let’s dance. Let’s dance…
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
David Bowie tunes
David Bowie was an English singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger, and audio engineer.
His biggest hits include (Is There) Life On Mars?, Starman, Ziggy Stardust, Let’s Dance, China Girl, and Heroes.
David Bowie on the web
Chic tunes
Nile Rodgers’ Chic has many well-known Disco hits, but it’s perhaps his work as a producer and writer that he is best known for.
Producing Madonna, Sister Sledge, David Bowie, Diana Ross, Daft Punk, Duran Duran, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Nile is a legend in the business.
Chic on the web
Stevie Ray Vaughan tunes
Launching himself in 1983 to the world with his debut album Texas Flood and simultaneously appearing on David Bowie’s Let’s Dance, SRV was an instant hit.
Following this up with Couldn’t Stand The Weather, Pride & Joy, and Mary Had A Little Lamb, he firmly established himself as one of the greats.
Stevie Ray Vaughan on the web
About me | Dan Lundholm
This guitar lesson by Dan Lundholm features TAB and covers Let’s Dance. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.