Duran Duran - My Own Way (1982)
Tabbed by: trevgreg
Email: trevgreg1227@hotmail.com
Tuning: Standard
An oldie but a goodie, here’s how to play Duran Duran’s “My Own Way” on guitar. This will
be based on the version off of the Rio album, rather than the single version released the
year before. Although not a personal favorite among the members of the band, this song managed
to find its way into some of the band’s set lists during their 2006 tour dates. It was used
as a transition from Some Like It Hot, which might’ve been an obvious choice since both songs
feature a similar arrangement with E minor seventh chords. Overall though, “My Own Way” is
a simple song at first, but works your hands more once you get towards the end of the song
when the various seventh chord arrangements start kicking in.
To start out, here is the arrangement for the verses, which is a bit simpler than the minor
seventh chords used later on. Then after repeating it three times, finish with one
of the D5 and C5 chords each. There might be an easier way to play this, so if anyone has
a suggestion, I’m all ears.
A5 G5 F#5 D5 C5
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--14--14--14---12--11-----------------------------7----5-----------|
D|--14--14--14---12--11-----------------------------7----5-----------|
A|--12--12--12---10--9------------------------------5----3-----------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
For the beginning of the chorus, it’s really just a Em7 chord, along with some muting and
different fingerings with the pinkie on the e string. Use a solid fast up-and-down motion
too when playing the chords as well, as some of these are played another time or two more
than shown.
After doing that first part 3 times, then end with the opposite of the verse riff, with a
C5 chord and then a D5 chord in that order instead.
Em7 variations C5 D5
e|--7----7--7--7----10----9--9--9------------------------------------|
B|--8----8--8--8----8-----8--8--8------------------------------------|
G|--7----7--7--7----7-----7--7--7------------------5----7------------|
D|--9----9--9--9----9-----9--9--9------------------5----7------------|
A|--7----7--7--7----7-----7--7--7------------------3----5------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
After the second chorus, Andy throws in a few E5 barre chords that he repeats 3 times.
E5
e|----------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------|
G|--9---9----9---9----9---9---------------------------|
D|--9---9----9---9----9---9---------------------------|
A|--7---7----7---7----7---7---------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------|
When Simon starts to sing about “6th and Broadway”, Andy’s solo for the song is more prominent
than before (which is the main keyboard part to the song as well). Here’s how to play it… I'm
fairly certain the first part is correct, though I’m welcome to suggestions about the second
part. It goes higher on the fretboard for sure, though how high can be up for question.
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------8(h)----7--------------------------------------|
G|--9(h)-----7(h)9(p)7-------------------9--7------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------13(h)----12------------------------------------|
G|--14(h)----12(h)14(p)12-----------------14--12---------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Here’s where it starts to get a little confusing, as the outro has Andy’s meshing the main
chorus riff with several new riffs he plays occasionally throughout it. Here is the riff Andy
starts playing for the last part of where Simon sings about “7Up” and “6th and Broadway."
For the final parts of the riffs that end the song, really stick to the last four strings
or so to get a sound like Andy has on the record. Also note that the C5 and D5 chords are
still used to close for the rest of these riffs.
Ironically enough, if you play these chords two frets higher, you’re playing the main riff
to Notorious!
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/d/duran_duran/my_own_way_tab.html ]
e|--5----5--5--5----7----8--8--8-----------------------------------------|
B|--6----6--6--6----6----6--6--6-----------------------------------------|
G|--5----5--5--5----5----5--5--5-------------------5----7----------------|
D|--7----7--7--7----7----7--7--7-------------------5----7----------------|
A|--5----5--5--5----5----5--5--5-------------------3----5----------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
After the final chorus, Andy plays the chorus like this repeating only the first part shown
here. He starts doing this when Simon starts ad-libbing at the end of the song. This is the
part used where Simon sings about “that Jack running” (or whatever it is!).
e|--12----12--12--12-------------------------------------------------------|
B|--10----10--10--10-------------------------------------------------------|
G|--9-----9---9---9-----------------------5----7---------------------------|
D|--11----11--11--11----------------------5----7---------------------------|
A|--9-----9---9---9-----------------------3----5---------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
The chord arrangement changes after Simon sings about “just how I like it” and up to the part
about the “streets around this town”, as Andy starts to go further up the fretboard with
the same chord arrangement. Again, watch for Andy’s timing at the end for these riffs to sound
as close to right as possible.
e|--12----12--12--12----12----15--14--13-------------------------------|
B|--10----10--10--10----10----13--12--11-------------------------------|
G|--9-----9---9---9-----9-----12--11--10---------5----7----------------|
D|--11----11--11--11----11----14--13--12---------5----7----------------|
A|--9-----9---9---9-----12----11--10--9----------3----5----------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
Then at the very end, Andy changes the chord arrangement once more after Simon starts singing
“Hey you!”, this time playing each chord just once and repeating it on a faster pace than
before, ending with the barre chords like always.
e|--12----15--14--13-------------------------------------------------|
B|--10----13--12--11-------------------------------------------------|
G|--9-----12--11--10-------------------5----7------------------------|
D|--11----14--13--12-------------------5----7------------------------|
A|--9-----12--11--10-------------------3----5------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
On a final note, there's also some other lead work that Andy appears to be playing during
these end riffs too.
A5 G5 F#5
A5 G5 F#5
A5 G5 F#5
C5 D5
A5 G5 F#5
I saw you at the airace yesterday
A5 G5 F#5
April showers get out of my way
A5 G5 F#5
Fear of flying, no not me
D5 C5
A5 G5 F#5
I'm never bothered, what you say
A5 G5 F#5
Someone's kid just lives for today
A5 G5 F#5
I ain't your problem anyway
D5 C5
Em7 variations
'Cause I've got my own way
Em7 variations
I can find my own way
Em7 variations
'Cause I've got my own way
C5 D5
Em7 variations
'Cause I've got my own way
Em7 variations
I can find my own way
Em7 variations
'Cause I've got my own way
C5 D5
A5 G5 F#5
A5 G5 F#5
A5 G5 F#5
C5 D5
A5 G5 F#5
No. 1 public figure, what a pain
A5 G5 F#5
Just puts another rattle in your brain
A5 G5 F#5
Take another green but it's not the same
D5 C5
A5 G5 F#5
Now you're on the Sandlane everyday
A5 G5 F#5
Dancing with the bulls in any old way
A5 G5 F#5
Running like a fox to keep up with me
D5 C5
Em7 variations
'Cause I've got my own way
Em7 variations
I can find my own way
Em7 variations
'Cause I've got my own way
C5 D5
Em7 variations
'Cause I've got my own way
Em7 variations
I can find my own way
Em7 variations
'Cause I've got my own way
C5 D5
E5 E5 E5 E5 E5 E5
(Various Seventh Chord Arrangements + C5 and E5 - See Above)
I'm on 45th between Sixth and Broadway
(Various Seventh Chord Arrangements + C5 and E5 - See Above)
7UP between Sixth and Broadway
Em7 variations
'Cause I've got my own way
Em7 variations
I can find my own way
Em7 variations
'Cause I've got my own way
C5 D5
Em7 variations
'Cause I've got my own way
Em7 variations
I can find my own way
Em7 variations
'Cause I've got my own way
C5 D5
(Various Seventh Chord Arrangements + C5 and E5 - See Above)
