Ball And Chain chords by
Xtc (Official Version)

1982Rock3K views

Key: C majorDifficulty: Advanced

Intro 1

C

Gm11

C

Gm11

Verse 1
C C 
 
Gm11 Gm11 
 
Save us from the ball and chain,
C C 
 
Gm11 Gm11 
 
Save us from the ball and chain,
C C 
 
Gm11 Gm11 
 
Save us from the ball and chain,
Oh yeah,
Bb/C Bb/C 
 
F/C F/C 
 
C C 
 
The diggers and the tower cranes

Verse 2
C C 
 
Gm11 Gm11 
 
Save us from the ball and chain,
C C 
 
Gm11 Gm11 
 
Save us from the ball and chain,
C C 
 
Gm11 Gm11 
 
Save us from the ball and chain, Oh yeah,
Bb/C Bb/C 
 
F/C F/C 
 
C C 
 
The diggers and the tower cranes,
Bb/C Bb/C 
 
F/C F/C 
 
C C 
 
The diggers and the tower cranes

Bridge 1

Dsus4

D

Csus4

C

Don't want demo lition

Dsus4

D

Csus4

C

Don't want your com pensa- tion

Dsus4

D

Csus4

C

It's not just bri cks and mortar

Dsus4

D

G7sus4

G

We are lambs to slaughter

Interlude 1

G

G

G9sus4

G9sus4

G

G

G9sus4

G9sus4

Verse 3
C C 
 
Gm11 Gm11 
 
Save us from the ball and chain,
C C 
 
Gm11 Gm11 
 
Save us from the ball and chain,
C C 
 
Gm11 Gm11 
 
Save us from the ball and chain,
Oh yeah,
Bb Bb 
 
F F 
 
C C 
 
The diggers and the tower cranes,
Bb Bb 
 
F F 
 
C C 
 
The diggers and the tower cranes

Bridge 2

Dsus4

D

Csus4

C

Must we live in fear

Dsus4

D

Csus4

C

From those who she d no tears?

Dsus4

D

Csus4

C

Our one and on ly shel- ter

Dsus4

D

G7sus4

G

Your games, your hel ter skel- ter

Interlude 2

G

G

G9sus4

G9sus4

G

G

G9sus4

G9sus4

Bridge 3
Fm Fm 
 
Motorways and office blocks,
They're standing on the spot
G G 
 
Where stood a home,
Fm Fm 
 
They're crushing on the memories of people,
G G 
 
Who have since turned to stone
Fm Fm 
 
(Ahh)
G G 
 
They've turned to stone,
Fm Fm 
 
(Ahh)
G G 
 
G G 
 
They've turned to stone

Solo 1

C

Gm11

C

Gm11

C

Gm11

C

Ab

Verse 4
Db Db 
 
Abm11 Abm11 
 
Save us from the ball and chain,
Db Db 
 
Abm11 Abm11 
 
Save us from the ball and chain,
Db Db 
 
Abm11 Abm11 
 
Save us from the ball and chain,
Oh yeah,
B B 
 
Gb Gb 
 
Db Db 
 
The diggers and the tower cranes

Verse 5
Db Db 
 
Abm11 Abm11 
 
Save us from the ball and chain,
Db Db 
 
Abm11 Abm11 
 
Save us from the ball and chain,
Db Db 
 
Abm11 Abm11 
 
Save us from the ball ball chain,
Oh yeah,
B B 
 
Gb Gb 
 
Db Db 
 
The diggers and the tower cranes
B B 
 
Gb Gb 
 
Db Db 
 
The diggers and the tower cranes
B B 
 
Gb Gb 
 
The diggers and the tower

Outro 1

Ab

Ab

Ab9sus4

Ab9sus4

Ab

Ab

Ab9sus4

Ab9sus4

[Repeat and fade]

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TunerE A D G B E

ChordsC Gm11 Bb/C F/C Dsus4...

Chords

C
Gm11
Bb/C
F/C
Dsus4
D
Csus4
G7sus4
G
G9sus4
Bb
F
Fm
Ab
Db
Abm11
B
Gb
Ab9sus4

Finger positions, low to high (E A D G B e). 0 is open, x is muted.

C: x-3-2-0-1-0
Gm11: 3-x-3-3-1-x
Bb/C: x-3-x-3-3-1
F/C: x-3-3-2-1-x
Dsus4: x-x-0-2-3-3
D: x-x-0-2-3-2
Csus4: x-3-3-0-1-x
G7sus4: 3-x-0-0-1-1
G: 3-2-0-0-0-3
G9sus4: 3-x-3-2-1-x
Bb: x-1-3-3-3-x
F: x-3-3-2-1-x
Fm: x-x-3-1-1-1
Ab: 4-6-6-5-4-4
Db: x-4-6-6-6-x
Abm11: 4-x-4-4-2-x
B: x-2-4-4-4-x
Gb: 2-4-4-3-2-2
Ab9sus4: 4-x-4-3-2-x

Capo: No capo

Transpose: 0

0

Accurately transcribed by the GuitarTuna team.

F is one of the chords beginners ask about the most. A short walkthrough on how to fret it cleanly and switch in and out of it. Learn the F chord

Barre chords ask a lot of the fretting hand. The barre course walks through hand position, pressure, and the cleanest way to land each shape. Practice barre chords

This is the definitive original version of Ball And Chain by XTC, transcribed exactly as it was recorded in the studio. Unlike our simplified arrangement, this chart preserves the precise chord voicings and progressions in the original key of C major. It is designed for experienced players looking to reproduce the full sonic intent and artistic expression of XTC.

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