Fender Play Live: Ziggy Stardust Playlist

Fender Play Live is a weekly studio show that dives deep into the Fender's legendary gear and the iconic music that was made by it over the years.

In this edition of the program, the focus is on the legendary David Bowie, and more specifically, his 1972 album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

Fender Play instructor Scott Goldbaun is joined by guest (and noted Bowie enthusiast) Andrew Martin, who has played with the bands Palace Royale and Moon Honey. The guys dive into three songs off Ziggy Stardust, taking a look at the tones, riffs and everything else that came together on this groundbreaking record.

Don't worry if you missed the show. You can watch it on Fender’s YouTube, Facebook and Twitter channels, in addition to the video embedded below.

To accompany Fender Play Live, we've compiled a special Ziggy Stardust curriculum for every level of player to follow through Fender Play. Check out the lesson lists below, and if you're not a Fender Play subscriber yet, start your free trial here.

Ziggy Stardust Crash Course: Level 1

Exercise: G to D Switch

Moving from the G chord to the D chords is a very common progression that you'll hear in "Ziggy Stardust," especially in the chorus. Guitarists tend to use this transition a lot because of its open-chord quality.

Learn how to switch from the G to the D chord in this video.

Exercise: G - D - C (Half Notes)

Now, it's time to add another chord to the progression with the C chord. It's another common transition that you've likely heard in a ton of popular songs.

Practice your chord progressions bsed on half notes in this lesson.

Exercise: Alternate Strumming with 16th Notes

Take your strumming to the next level by moving from G to C with 16th notes. This means that you'll be using the technique of alternate strumming, or strumming both down and up with your strumming hand.

Try alternate strumming in this lesson.

Exercise: Power Chords to a Rhythm

Playing in time is important, and a good way to work on doing so is by playing power chords in rhythm.

IN this lesson, you'll use the power chords D5, A5 and E5 to create a rhythm all your own.

Exercise: C to F with String Muting

Ronson also mutes his strings during "Ziggy Stardust" - it's that unmistakable pause you hear upon the first strums of his guitar on the track. You can try it out along with this lesson that switches between the C and Fmaj7 chords.

Ziggy Stardust Crash Course: Level 2

Course: Combining Power and Standard Chords

Moving up a level, this course will walk you through combining power and standard chords to expand you chord vocabulary, beginning with basic theory and then running through several regularly used chord transitions.

Exercise: Strum Eighth Note Triplets with a Percussive Strum

The percussive strum occurs when you use the palm or back side of your fingers on your strumming hand to create an almost drum-like sound as you're playing. You can hear this technique on "Ziggy Stardust," as well as Bowie's 1969 hit, "Space Oddity."

Learn how to incorporate a percussive strum into your style with this lesson.

Exercise: Unison Double Stop Bends

Unison bends are commonly used in classic rock and blues guitar, and the technique refers to when you bend a note to reach the same pitch as a note on a neighboring string. Basically, you're playing the same note on two different strings.

Try your hand at unison bends in this lesson.

Riff: "Ziggy Stardust"

With the legendary Mick Ronson taking the lead on guitar for The Rise adn Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, the title track begins with an unforgettable and anthemic riff that contains a variety of advanced techniques and chords. Remember that percussive strum you practices above? Put it to good use here.

Learn how to play the riff from "Ziggy Stardust."

Ziggy Stardust Crash Course: Level 3

Full Song: "Ziggy Stardust"

Now, the full song. This tune tells a cautionary tale of the record's protagonist, a left-handed, guitar-playing man who falls to Earth, rises to fame and eventually succumbs to the bright lights. Ronson's amazing riff couples perfectly with Bowie's exceptional storytelling, serving as a centerpiece to this concept album.

Learn how to play "Ziggy Stardust" here.

Full Song: "Moonage Daydream"

Originally released in 1971 by Bowie and his then-band Arnold Corns, "Moonage Daydream" might be the most rocking song on Ziggy Stardust, as it really allows Ronson to dig in. It might also be the album's most important, as it offers the origin of our titular space hero and how he grows into an archetypal rock star.

Learn how to play "Moonage Daydream" here.

Full Song: "Starman"

Ronson puts his acoustic guitar out in front of "Starman," creating a groovy pop arrangement that proved to be a milestone in Bowie's career, as it was his first hit since "Space Oddity." As a single, "Starman" remained in the UK charts for 11 weeks.

Learn how to play "Starman" here.

For more Fender Play Live, go to Fender’s YouTube, Facebook and Twitter channels. And if you're not a member of Fender Play yet, click here for a free trial.