The Music of James Bond

James Bond gun barrel design is also iconic!

Ian Fleming's "Casino Royale" was published in 1953 and with it, James Bond became one of the most iconic literary characters in history. The first movie, "Dr. No", was released in 1962, and with it, the James Bond became one of the most iconic film series in history.

Monty Norman was commissioned to compose the theme and John Barry was tasked with re-arranging the theme for "Dr. No", and with that, James Bond music became just as iconic.

In addition to the famous "James Bond Theme" (and the situational Bond themes heard in the series), there has been a tradition of one-off title themes beginning with the second movie, "From Russia with Love". Among the most successful of these songs are "Goldfinger" (1964) by John Barry & sung by Shirley Bassey, "Live and Let Die" (1973) by Paul McCartney and performed by his band Wings, "Nobody Does it Better" (1977) by Marvin Hamlish and sung by Carly Simon, "A View to a Kill" (1985) by John Barry with Duran Duran, "Die Another Day" (2002) written & performed by Madonna, and "No Time to Die" (2020) by Billie Eilish.

Gotta dress sharp to teach Bond.

Let's learn them all, shall we?

(editor's note: below are basic charts, but for more detail or for the highest quality instruction, visit SDML Acedemy of Guitar at www.sdmlguitar.com....and learn more about the James Bond franchise at the official website and Wikipedia. This list will be up-dated as new Bond films are released.)

1) James Bond Theme

With a wicked cool surf guitar line played by Vic Flick (the guitarist in Barry's big band) and an arrangement that makes you move, this theme is among the best pieces of film music ever, in my view. Performed by John Barry Orchestra.

I'll add the tab asap, but here is a wonderful 2012 VIDEO of Vic Flick himself playing the guitar part over the original piece! 

BONUS: This theme features the famous "James Bond Chord", which is included in my lesson article "Signature Chords" (also featured are the "Hendrix Chord", the "Prince Chord", & more). Check it out: "Signature Chords".

2) From Russia with Love

Sung by Matt Monroe, known as The Man with the Golden Voice.

chorus:

Dm7 - - - /F - - - /E7 - - - /A7 - - - /
Dm7 - - - /F - - - /Gm7 - - - /Bb - A - /
D - - - /D - - - /Gm - - - /Gm7 - - - /
Bbmj7 - - - /A7 - - - / Dm - - - /Dm7 - - - /

bridge:
Gm7 - - - /C7 - - - /Bbmj7 - - - /F - - - /
Gm7 - - - /A7 - - - /Dm - - -/Dm - - - /
Gm7 - - - /C7 - - - /F - Am - /Dm - - - /
Em - - - / x x x x /A7 - - - /A7 - - - /

3) Goldfinger

Sung by Shirley Bassey, the only singer to sing on more than one Bond theme (she sang on three!).

intro:
E - C - / C - - -/ (4x)
chorus:
E - C - /C - - - /E - - - /A7 - - - /
G#7 - - - /G#7 - - - /B7 - - - /B7 - - - /
E - C - /C - - - /E - - - /A7 - - - /
G#7 - - - /G#7 - - - /Gm - - - /Gm7 - - - /

bridge:
D#m - - - /Bb7 - - - /D#m - - - /Bb7 - - - /
D#m - - - /Bm - - - /F#m - - - /F#m - - - /

4) Thunderball

Sung by Tom Jones.

capo @ 3
Gm - - - /Cm - - - /Gm - - - /Gm - - - /

G# - - - /D7 - - - /Gm - - - /Gm - - - /

Cm - - - /D7 - - - /Bm - - - /Bm - - - /

Cm - - - /A7 - - - /D7 - - - /D7 - - - /

Gm - - - /Cm - - - /Gm - - - /Gm - - - /

G# - - - /D7 - - - /Gm - - - /Gm - - - /

Cm - - - /D7 - - - /Bm - - - /Bm - - - /

Cm - - - /A7 - - - /D7 - - - /Gm - - - /

Cm - - - /F - - - /Gm - - - /Gm - - - /

F - - - /Dm - - - /D7 - - - /Gm - - - /

Gm - - - /Cm - - - /Gm - - - /Gm - - - /

G# - - - /D7 - - - /Gm - - - /Gm - - - /

Cm - - - /D7 - - - /Bm - - - /Bm - - - /

Cm - - - /D7 - - - /Gm - - - /Gm - - - /

5) You Only Live Twice

Sung by Nancy Sinatra.

verse 1:

B - - - /F#m - - - /Em - - - /B - - - /

Em - - - /F#m - - - /Em - - - /F# - - - /

B - - - /F#m - - - /Em - - - /B - - - /

Em - - - /F#m - - - /Em - - - /B - - - /

chorus:

Em - - - /F# - - - /Am - - - /F# - - - /

Em - - - /F# - - - /Em - - - /F#7 - - - /

verse 2:

B - - - /F#m - - - /Em - - - /B - - - /

Em - - - /F#m - - - /Em - - - /B - - - /

6) On Her Majesty's Secret Service

John Berry Orchestra

Cool theme based on the classic minor blues progression i - vii - vi - V(7) in Fm...which means groove that puppy as:

Fm - Eb - /Db - C7 - / repeat

think "Hit the Road, Jack" and "Stray Cat Strut" and "Do Right" as examplesof the underlying theme.

6.5) "All the Time in the World" 

Louis Armstrong

intro:

A - - - /F#m - - - /A - - - /F#m - - - /

verse:

A - - - /F#m - - - /C#m - - - /Em - - - /

Bm - - - /E7 - - - /A - - - /E7 - - - /

A - - - /F#m - - - /C#m - - - /Em - - - /

Bm - - - /E7 - - - /A - - - /A - - - /

bridge:

C - - - /Bb - - - /F - - - /Bb - - - /

Ab - - - /Db - - - /E - - - /E7 - - - /

7) Diamonds Are Forever
Sung by Shirley Bassey

verse:

Bm - - - /Bm - - - /Em - - - /Em - - - /

A7 - - - /A7 - - - /Em7 - - - /Cmj7 - - - /

Cmj7 - - - /Cmj7 - - - /

bridge:

A - - - /A - - - /Bm - - - /Em - - - /

C7 - - - /C7 - - - /F# - - - /F#7 - - - /

Bb - - - /Bb - - - /

8) Live and Let Die

Performed by Paul McCartney & Wings

verse:

G - Bm - /C - D D7 /G - Bm - /Am - D D7 /

G - Bm - /C - A7 - /D - D - /Dm - - - /

chorus:

G - C - /A7 - G - /G - C - /A7 - /

theme: (see tab for riff)

Gm - - - /Gm - - - /Gm - - - /Gm C Bb - /

Gm - - - /Gm - - - /Gm - - - /Gm C Bb - /

Gm - - - / (continue thru orchestration)

bridge: 

(half time reggae feel)

C7 - - - /C7 - - - /G7 - - - /G7 - - - /

D7 - - - /D7 - - - /Em - - - /F - - - /

9) Man with the Golden Gun

Sung by Lulu

chorus

Bm - Bm7 - /Em - - - /Am - Am7 - /C - - - /

B7 - - - /Em - - - /C#m - - - /F#7 - - - /

repeat

verse

C#m - - - /C#m7 - - - /C#m - - - /F#7 - - - /

Bm - - - /Bm7 - - - /D#m - - - /A# - - - /

10) Nobody Does It Better

The first Bond song that isn't titled after the movie (in this case, "The Spy Who Loved Me"), sung by Carly Simon.

capo @ fret 1
A - Am - / E - E7 - / A - Am - / E - E7 - /

A - Am - / G#m - C#m - / F#m - B7 - / E - E7 - /

E - E7 - / A - Am - / E - E7 - / A - Am - /

E - E7 - / A - Am - / G#m C#m F#m B7 / E - E7 - /


11) Moonraker

Final Bond song to be sung by Shirley Bassey.

Bmj7 - - - /Bmj7 - - - /Em - - - /Em - - - /

Bmj7 - - - /Bmj7 - - - /F#m - - - /F#m - - - /

D#m - - - /G#m - - - /D#m - - - /G#m - - - /

C#m - - - /F#m - - - /C#m - - - /F#m - - - /F#m.....


12) For Your Eyes Only 

Sung by Sheena Easton.

verse

G - - - /G - - - /G - - - /G - - - /

G - D - /D - - - /Cmj7 - Bm - /

Bm7 - D - /D - - - /Am - - - /D - - - /D - - - /

chorus

C - - - /G - Em - /Am - - - /Am7 - D - /

C - - - /G - Em - /Am7 - - - /G - Em - /

Am - - - /D - - - /G - - - /G - - - /


13) All Time High

For the movie "Octopussy", sung by Rita Coolidge

verse

E - - - /G#m - - - /C#m - - - /C#m - - -/

A - - - /A - - - /G#7 - - - /G#7 - - - /

repeat

chorus

C# - - - /C#mj7 - - - /F# - - - /F# - - - /

D#m - - - /D#m7 - - - /G# - - - /G#7 - - - /

C# - - - /C#mj7 - - - /F# - - - /F# - - - /

D#m - - - /D#m7 - - - /B - - - /B7 - - - /

14) A View to a Kill

Performed by Duran Duran.

verse

Cm - - - /Eb - - - /Bb - - - /F - - - /

Cm - - - /Eb - - - /Bb - - - /F - - - /

Cm - - - /Gm - - - /Bb - - - /F - - - /

Cm - - - /Gm - - - /Bb - - - /F - - - /

B - - - /C# - - - /G# - - - /D#m - - - /

B - - - /C# - - - /

chorus

E - - - /G#m - - - /C#m - - - /D#m - - - /

E - - - /G#m - - - /C#m - - - /D#m - - - /

E - - - /G#m - - - /C#m - - - /D#m - - - /

E - - - /G#m - - - /C#m - - - /D#m - - - /

15) The Living Daylights

Performed by A-ha.

verse

Dm - - - /Gm - - - /Dm - - - /Gm - - - /

Dm - - - /C - Gm - /Dm - - - /Gm - Am - /

Dm - F - /Gm - Am - /Dm - F - /Gm - Am - /

Fm - - - /Bb - - - /Cm - - - /Bb - - - /

Fm - - - /Bb - - - /Cm - - - /Bb - - - /

Fm - - - /Bb - - - /Cm - - - /Bb - - - /

Fm - - - /Bb - - - /Cm - - - /Db - Eb - /

chorus

Dm - - - /Gm - C - /Dm - - - /Gm - C - /

Dm - - - /Gm - C - /Dm - - - /Gm - C - /

16) License to Kill
Sung by Gladys Knight.
capo @2

verse

E - C - /C - - G /E - C - /C - D - /

E - C - /C - - G /E - C - /C - D - /

Am - - - /Bm - - - /D E - - /

chorus

D - Bm - /C - Am - /Bm - - - /C - - - /

D - Bm - /C - Am - /Bm - - - /C - - - /C - - - /

E - C - /C - - - /E - C - /C - - - /

17) GoldenEye
Sung by Tina Turner.

verse:

Fm - - - /Bm - - - /Fm - - - /Fm - - - /

Fm - - - /Bm - - - /E - - - /C#7 - - - /

repeat

chorus:

Em - - - /Em7 - - - /Em6 - - - /Emb6 - - - /

Em - - - /Em7 - - - /Em6 - - - /Emb6 - - - /

Bm - - - /Em - - - /Bm - - - /Em - F#7 - /

Bm - - - /Em - - - /Bm - - - /Em - F#7 - /

Fm - - - / (NC) - - - /

Note: The chords featured for the chorus, like in several other songs, are simplified for one instrument, though the strings often run opposing chromatic lines (weaving in "The Bond Theme"), creating more complex chords.

18) Tomorrow Never Dies
Performed by Sheryl Crow.

verse:

Gm - Gm(mj7) - /Gm7 - Gm6 - /Cm - - - /D7 - - - /

Gm - Gm(mj7) - /Gm7 - Gm6 - /Cm - - - /D7 - - - /

Fm - - - /Bb - - - /Fm - - - /G7 - - - /

chorus:

Cm - - - /Fm - G - /Cm - - - /Fm - G - /

Fm - Fm+ - /G - G7 - /Fm - Fm+ - /G - G7 - /

Cm.......

19) The World is Not Enough
Performed by Garbage.

intro:

Fm....

verse:

Bbm - - - /Fm - - - /Bbm - - - /Fm - - - /

Bbm - - - /Gb7 - - - /C - - - /C7 - - - /

chorus:

Fm - - - /Fm7 - - - /Bb - Bdim - /C - C7 - /

Fm - - - /Fm7 - - - /Bb - Bdim - /C - C7 - /

20) Die Another Day
Sung by Madonna.

verse:

Cm - - - /Ab - Bb - / repeat

note: full-on techno groove (I use the term "techno" in the widest possible sense here, as the track mixes synth-pop and other electronic dance elements), it never stops the Cm, Ab, Bb theme in the bass, but often features a static Cm chord on the keyboard running against the bass movement.


21) You Know My Name
For the movie "Casino Royale" sung by Chris Cornell.

intro:

Bm - G - /E - - - / (4x)

verse:

Bm - - - /Bm - - - /Gm - - - /Gm - - - /

D - - - /F# - - - /

Bm - - - /Bm - - - /Gm - - - /Gm - - - /

D - - - /F# - - - /F#7 - - - /

pre:

G - - - /F# - - - /Bm - A - /E7(/G#) - - - /

G - - - /F# - - - /Bm - A - /E7(/G#) - - - /

G - - - /F# - - - /F#7 - - - /

chorus

Bm - - - /G - - - /E - - - /E7 - - - / (4x)

G - - - /E - - - /Bm - G - /E - - - /

22) Another Way to Die
For the movie "Quantum of Solace", sung by Jack White & Alicia Keys.

intro:

Em riff.........(around Em & G chords)

Bm - G - /E - - - /Bm - G - /E - - - /

verse:

Bm - G - /E - - - /Bm - G - /E - - - /

Bm - G - /E - - - /

chorus:

Bm - G - /A - - - /Bm - G - /A - - - /

Em - - - /Em - - - /

bridge:

Am - Bm - /Em - Bm - / (4x)

23) Skyfall
Sung by Adele.
capo @3

intro

Am - Fmj7 - /D7 - Dm - / (3x)

Am - - - /E7 - - - /

verse:

Am - F - /D - Dm - /Am - F - D - Dm - /

Am - F - /D - Dm - /Am - - - /E7 - - - /

chorus:

Am - - Am7 /F - - Fmj7 /D - - D7 /Bm7b5 - E - / 

Am - - Am7 /F - - Fmj7 /D - - D7 /Bm7b5 - E - / 

Am - F - /D - Dm - /A, - F - D - Dm - /

bridge:

Dm - - - /Am - - - /D7 - - - /Am - - - /

F - - - /D7 - - - /Bm7b5 - - - /E7 - - - /

24) Writing's on the Wall

For the movie "Spectre", sung by Sam Smith.
capo @1

intro

Emadd9 - - - /Gmj7 - - - / repeat

verse

Em - - - /Gmj7 - - - /Em - - - /Gmj7 - - - /

C - - - /B7 - - - /C- - - /B7 - - -/

chorus

Em - G - /C - - - /Em - G - /B7 - - - /

Em - D - /C - Bm - /Em - D - /C - Bm - /

Am - - - /Bm - B7 - / NC - - - /

Em - - - /Gmj7 - - - / (repeat as necessary)

note: strings slightly swell a G# against the Em at the very end, implying a Picardy Third.

25) No Time to Die

Sung by Billie Eilish.

intro (see: tab/video - coming soon)

Em - C - /A7 - B7 - /

repeat

verse

Em - C - /A7 - Am - /Em - C - /A7 - Am - /
Em - C - /A7 - Am - /C - - - /B7 - - - /

pre

C - - - /Em - - - /Am - - - /B7 - - - /

chorus

Em - C - /Am - - - /Em - C - /Am - - - /

Em - C - /Am - - - /Em - C - /B7 - - - /

Em - - - /C - - - /A7 - - - /B7 - - - /

note: The chromatic "Bond Theme" of B, C, C#, C (against a static Em in the original "Dr No") is realized here in the chords Em (contains B), C (contains C), A7 (contains C#), and Am (contains C).

Also, the full chords (due to melodic theme) often spell Em9 and Cmj7 and such, but I kept the "strum version" as triads and dom-7 chords for simplicity.


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