Rebel Rebel Guitar Lesson (David Bowie)

One of the core techniques every guitarist should have a handle on is arpeggio picking. 

The basic idea of arpeggio picking is you take notes of a chord. But instead of strumming them. You pick them individually.

This one technique has been the seed of many legendary guitar riffs. And today, I would like to share with you an example of this in this Rebel Rebel guitar lesson. 

So grab your guitar, and let’s get started!

Who wrote Rebel Rebel?

"Rebel Rebel" was written and performed by David Bowie. It was first released as a single in 1974 and then later included on his album "Diamond Dogs." The song has a catchy guitar riff and it’s known for its rebellious lyrics. 

Bowie recorded it in January 1974 at Olympic Studios in London.

"Rebel Rebel" is considered one of Bowie's signature songs and a glam rock anthem. 

The song features Bowie's distinctive vocals and Mick Ronson's memorable guitar work. 

It reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. 

Despite not originally achieving significant chart success in the United States, it has become one of Bowie's most lasting and popular songs.

"Rebel Rebel" has been featured in various films, TV shows, and commercials, contributing to its cultural impact as well.

How do you play Rebel Rebel intro? 

The opening guitar part to “Rebel Rebel” is iconic. It’s all based around just two chords Dsus2 and E.

Here is how I would play each chord.  

For Dsus, I would take a typical open-position D chord and remove my middle finger, making the first string open like this:

Then for E, I would play all 6 strings like this:

Now, instead of strumming these chords. For the riff, we’ll use a technique called arpeggio picking.

Arpeggio picking is where instead of strumming all the notes of a chord, you play individual notes in a sequence. This can be done in many combinations and patterns. Here is an example, in the style of Mick Ronson, of how arpeggio picking can be used together with Dus2, and E:

Notice the use of the embellishment on the E chord. The pull-off on the second string to open (C# to B)

Arpeggio picking often doesn’t just use notes all straight from the initial chord shapes. In this example the Dsus2 and E. Often there are other scale tones and color notes added to make a riff more exciting and interesting, like this C# to B pull-off. 

Also, the above example uses a combination of arpeggio picking some notes, and strumming others. This again is another way to keep the energy of the music moving forward.

What tuning is Rebel Rebel in?

"Rebel Rebel" is played in standard tuning. This is where the strings are tuned to E-A-D-G-B-E from low to high. Standard tuning is the most common tuning for the guitar and is widely used in various genres of music.

• 6th String: E (lowest pitch)
• 5th String: A
• 4th String: D
• 3rd String: G
• 2nd String: B
• 1st String: E (highest pitch)

Rebel Rebel Guitar Chords

Beyond the riff, there are 3 other chord shapes you will need to know, A, D, and Bm. These chords come into play in the B section of the song. Let’s next take a look at how I would play these shapes, and also how they fit into the progression.

For A, I use a rock guitar approach where I just use my index finger to bar in the fretting hand like this:

D is just like Dsus2 but we’ll add back our middle finger onto the 2nd fret of the 1st string like this:

And finally, Bm is played from the 5th string down as a bar chord in 2nd position like this:

Now that you have all the chords, let’s look at how they fit into the progression for the B section. The B section is 4 bars long. We’ll play A, D, Bm, and then E. Each chord lasts one bar like this:

A (1 bar)

D (1 bar)

Bm (1 bar)

E (1 bar)

What key is Rebel Rebel in?

“Rebel Rebel” by David Bowie is in the key of A major.  

Here is how all the chords in the song A, D, Bm, and E work together harmonically. 

• A Major (I): A major is the tonic chord (I) in the key of A major. It establishes a sense of resolution and stability.
• D Major (IV): D major is the subdominant chord (IV). In the key of A major, D is the fourth scale degree. The IV chord provides a bit of tension and leads naturally back to the tonic (A major). It's often used as a transitional chord.
• B Minor (ii): B minor is the supertonic chord (ii) in the key of A major. The ii chord adds variation and can create a smooth transition between chords.
• E Major (V): E major is the dominant chord (V). In the key of A major, E is the fifth scale degree. The V chord introduces tension and typically leads back to the tonic (A major) with a strong sense of resolution. 

The main riff alternates between the IV chord (D) and the V chord (E), in the key of A major.

Here are some simple guidelines for thinking about how these chords can work together and function in a song.

A major has a stable and resolving quality.

D major provides a sense of movement, often leading back to A.

B minor introduces a minor quality, adding emotional depth.

E major builds tension and sets up a strong resolution back to A.

Rebel Rebel Guitar Tone: 

Here are a few general guidelines for getting a “Rebel Rebel” style guitar tone.

To achieve a basic rock guitar tone, you can follow these general steps:

1. Guitar Setup: Make sure your guitar is set up right. Having good strings, proper intonation, and proper action. This is crucial and your tone starts here.
2. Pickups: For this song using the bridge pickup for a brighter and more aggressive sound is a good idea. And this is a common choice for rock tones. 
3. Amplifier: If you have an amplifier, set it to a clean or slightly overdriven channel as a starting point. Adjust the gain knob to introduce some crunch, but keep it moderate for a basic rock tone.
4. EQ: Use the amp's EQ settings to further shape your tone. Adjust bass, mid, and treble to find a balance that suits your preference, and listen to the song to try to match the sound.
5. Gain/Overdrive Pedal: If your amp doesn't have enough gain on its own, consider adding an overdrive pedal. This can push your amp into a more distorted territory, typical of rock music. 
6. Reverb: Add a touch of reverb for spatial depth. Keep it subtle to maintain clarity.
7. Experiment: Every guitar and amp combination is unique, so don't be afraid to experiment. Try different pickup selections, tweak your amp settings, and test various combinations to find your ideal tone.

Remember that the specific gear you have will influence the outcome, so use these steps as a starting point and adjust based on your preferences and the sound you're aiming for. 

Conclusion:

To wrap it up, this Rebel Rebel guitar lesson shows the power of arpeggio picking as a fundamental technique in crafting iconic riffs. 

Many famous songs do just the same.

Remember Pablo Picasso said, "Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist." 

So take these ideas, and make them your own. And for another great rock guitar lesson check out this Satisfaction guitar lesson next!