Start Me Up Chords by The Rolling Stones

Start Me Up chords by The Rolling Stones

Guitar chords with lyrics

Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones: Guitar, Bass & Songwriting Insights

"Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones features Keith Richards playing a classic open G-tuned guitar riff that drives the song. Bill Wyman's bassline provides a solid foundation, while Charlie Watts' drumming adds a steady groove. The song was originally recorded during the "Tattoo You" sessions in 1978, but wasn't released until 1981. Richards achieved the distinctive sound by using a MXR Distortion+ pedal for his guitar tone.

Start Me Up (Jagger/Richards)
       Rolling Stones


       Riff:

       B|---5---6-6-|--5---6-6--|---5-6-5---|
       G|---5---5-5-|--5---5-5--|---5-5-5---|
       D|---5---7-7-|--5---7-7--|---5-7-5---|

🎸

Accuracy Rating: - Votes: -

       repeat with the rhythm:

       D|--3--5--3-------|
       A|--1--1--1-------|


       {chorus}
       [C] [F] [Eb] [C]
       [C]


       ______________________________________________________________

        ____________________________________________________________

         Excuse me any mistake, it's from memory.


        #Andre Schwantes              andres@vortex.ufrgs.br

                                            Porto Alegre
                                       Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil


My first post to this site, so I hope it looks ok :)

As with a lot of Rolling Stones songs, Keith Richards tunes his guitar to
an 'open G' (low to high: D,G,D,G,B,D) tuning. The  6th (lowest) string is
removed when playing this song. Another more or less trademark of
Richards.

Intro:                       P          M   M
D----|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B--5-|:-6-6---------5-|--6-6-5-5-5-6---|----------------|--------3-3-3-5:|
G--5-|--5-5---------5-|--5-5-5-5-5-5-0-|3---3---3---3-3-|----3---3-3-3-5-|
D--5-|:-7-7---------5-|--7-7-5-5-5-7-0-|3---5---3---5-3-|--3-5-3-3-3-3-5:|
G--5-|--------------5-|--5-5-5-5-5-5-0-|3---3---3-3---3-|--3-3-3-------5-|

That repeats a few times up until the Chorus. Here is the Chorus

Chorus:
  *
D-5-|----------------|--------------------------------|----------------|
B-5-|----5---5-------|--10----10--10--10--------------|----5---5-------|
G-5-|----5---5-7-7/10|--10----10--10--10--8---7---5---|----5---5-7-7/10|
D-5-|----5---5-7-7/10|--10----10--10--10--8---7---5---|----5---5-7-7/10|
G-5-|----5---5-7-7/10|--10----10--10--10--8---7---5---|----5---5-7-7/10|

D |--------------------------------|
B |10------10--10--10--------------|
G |10------10--10--10--8---7---5---|
D |10------10--10--10--8---7---5---|
G |10------10--10--10--8---7---5---|

* = This chord is not really played. You already played it (the last chord
in the intro) The chord is just carried into the chorus.

Note that I have also not tabbed in the lowest string.

P = pull-off.
M = muted note.
/ = slide up.
: = repeat.

Any probs, feel free to mail me.

	Have fun :)
	Mike.

Last updated: July 4, 2025

The Rolling Stones chords for Start me up

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