Duchess chords by The Stranglers (Official Version)

GuitarPianoUkulele

A
E/G#
D/F#
A/E
A/C#
E
E7
Eadd9
D
E/B

Intro 1

Verse 1
A 
 (A major) Duch of the terrace
E/G# 
 (E/G#) never  grew up
D/F# 
A/E 
A/C# 
I  (D/F#) hope   she never will  (A/E)  (A/C#) 
A 
 (A major) Broken-down TV
E/G# 
 (E/G#) sits   in the corner
D/F# 
A/E 
 (D/F#) Pictures standing still  (A/E) 
A/C# 
E 
E7 
Eadd9 
E 
 (A/C#) Standing still  (E major)  (E7)  (Eadd9)  (E major) 

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Verse 2

Duch of the terrace

knows all her heritage

Says she's Henry's kid

Knows all her history in the family

Needs a man, god forbid

God forbid

Chorus 1

And it sounds like an empty house

Standing still

And it's quieter than a mouse

Standing still

Verse 3
A 
 (A major) Duch of the terrace
E/G# 
 (E/G#) never  grew up
D/F# 
A/E 
A/C# 
I  (D/F#) hope   she never will  (A/E)  (A/C#) 
A 
 (A major) Says she's an heiress,
E/G# 
 (E/G#) sits   in her terrace
D/F# 
A/E 
 (D/F#) Says   she's got time to kill  (A/E) 
A/C# 
E 
E7 
Eadd9 
E 
 (A/C#) Time   to kill  (E major)  (E7)  (Eadd9)  (E major) 

Chorus 2

And the Rodneys are queuing up

God forbid

And they all want to win the cup

God forbid

Solo 1

Bridge 1

Du chess, du chess

Chorus 3
D 
A/C# 
And the  (D major) Rodneys are queuing up  (A/C#) 
E/B 
E/G# 
E 
E/G# 
God forbid  (E/B)  (E/G#)  (E major)  (E/G#) 
D 
A/C# 
And the  (D major) Rodneys are queuing up  (A/C#) 
E/B 
E/G# 
E 
E/G# 
God forbid  (E/B)  (E/G#)  (E major)  (E/G#) 
D 
A/C# 
And the  (D major) Rodneys are queuing  (A/C#) up
E 
God forbid  (E major) 

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GuitarPianoUkulele

A
E/G#
D/F#
A/E
A/C#
E
E7
Eadd9
D
E/B

Tuning: E A D G B EDifficulty: IntermediateKey: A majorBPM: 130

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

A: x-0-2-2-2-0
E/G#: 4-x-2-4-0-0
D/F#: 2-x-0-2-3-x
A/E: 0-x-2-2-2-0
A/C#: x-4-2-2-5-x
E: 0-2-2-1-0-0
E7: 0-2-0-1-0-0
Eadd9: 0-2-2-1-0-2
D: x-x-0-2-3-2
E/B: x-2-2-1-0-0

Accurately transcribed by the GuitarTuna team.

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This is the definitive original version of Duchess by The Stranglers, 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 A major. It is designed for guitarists ready to move past the basics and capture the true feel of The Stranglers's performance.