Vangelis — Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire (by Vangelis) ================ I'm quite sure this is accurate as far as it goes. This is tabbed in the key of D, but I'm not sure what the original was in; whacking a capo on at the relevant fret will allow you to play to the album if you like. When the chords are struck, I usually strike two, maybe three strings, instead of the full chord because it sounds a little more mellow that way. I have included the tab for the full chords in brackets, if folks would prefer to play it that way, but I really do recommend partial chords. Also, I like to switch octaves at some point during the song, to give some variation, but I'm not sure it does that in the original. The song is pretty easy to play, easily recognisable and -- most important -- quite fun. Happy playing! Part 1 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & e-|-------------------------| B-|-------------------------| G-|o------------------------| D-|o--------------------0---| A-|-------------------------| E-|-------------------------| G D 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & e-|(3)---------(2)----------|-------------------------| B-|(3)---------(3)----------|(3)----------------------| G-|-0---2---4---2~----------|(2)----------------------| D-|-0-----------0~----------|-4~~~~~~~~-----------0---| A-|(2)---------(0)----------|-------------------------| E-|(3)---------(2)----------|-------------------------| G D 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & e-|(3)---------(2)----------|-------------------------| B-|(3)---------(3)----------|-------------------------| G-|-0---2---4---2~~~~-------|-------------------------| D-|-0-----------0~~~~-------|---------------------0---| A-|(2)---------(0)----------|-------------------------| E-|(3)---------(2)----------|-------------------------| G D 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & e-|(3)---------(2)----------|-------------------------| B-|(3)---------(3)----------|(3)----------------------| G-|-0---2---4---2~----------|(2)----------------------| D-|-0-----------0~----------|-4~~~~~~~~-----------4---| A-|(2)---------(0)----------|-------------------------| E-|(3)---------(2)----------|-------------------------| G D 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & e-|------------(2)----------| B-|------------(3)----------| G-|------------(2)---------o| D-|-5---4---0---0~~~~------o| A-|-5-----------0~~~~-------| E-|-3----------(2)----------| Part 2 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & e-|-------------------------| B-|---------3---2-----------| G-|o----------------4---2---| D-|o------------------------| A-|-------------------------| E-|-------------------------| F#m G D 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & e-|(2)---------(3)----------|(2)----------------------| B-|-2~----------3~----------|(3)------3---2-----------| G-|-2~------2---4~------0---|-2~~~~-----------4---2---| D-|-4~----------5~----------|-0~~~~-------------------| A-|(4)---------(5)----------|-------------------------| E-|(2)---------(3)----------|-------------------------| F#m 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & e-|(2)----------------------|-------------------------| B-|-2~----------------------|---------3---2-----------| G-|-2~----------------------|-----------------4---2---| D-|-4~----------------------|-------------------------| A-|(4)----------------------|-------------------------| E-|(2)----------------------|-------------------------| F#m G D 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & e-|(2)---------(3)----------|(2)----------------------| B-|-2~----------3~----------|(3)----------------------| G-|-2~------2---4~------0---|-2~~~~-------------------| D-|-4~----------5~----------|-0~~~~---------------4---| A-|(4)---------(5)----------|-------------------------| E-|(2)---------(3)----------|-------------------------| G D 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & e-|------------(2)----------| B-|------------(3)----------| G-|------------(2)---------o| D-|-5---4---0---0~~~~------o| A-|-5-----------0~~~~-------| E-|-3----------(2)----------| I think the pattern is part 1 part 2 part 1 twice part 2 twice part 1 twice ... though I'm not 100% on that. The variation I mentioned earlier is the part in bar 7 and 8 of each part, ie.: GD e-|--------------------- B-|--------------------- G-|--------------------- D-|-4---5---4---0---0~-- A-|-----5-----------0~-- E-|-----3--------------- ... well, instead of that you could play this: GD e-|-2---3---2------(2)-- B-|-----3-------3---3~-- G-|-----0-----------2~-- D-|-----------------0~-- A-|--------------------- E-|--------------------- ... or you could just as easily come up with a variation of your own. As long as you keep the same notes in the melody (F#-G-F#-D-D) it'll sound great. You might even want to move up the neck with some barre chords. Also, don't take my time signature as gospel: wasn't sure (not having heard the song for yonks) if it was 6/8, 4/4, or 3/4. I am positive that the melody and chords are correct though. Hey, just do your own thing, live large and leave a legend behind!
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