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The Machman Tab by Gary Numan

The Machman tab by Gary Numan

Guitar Tab

Tubeway Army - The Machman
     Replicas - 1979

thanks to guitarman108 for the groundwork of the tab.

pretty sure it's in the key of Em for verses/bridge and G for chorus', but hey man...
...i aint never took no lessons or theories

Intro:

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|----2------------------------2--------------------|
A|----------2--4--4------------------2--4--4--------|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|----2------------------------2--------------------|
A|----------2--4--4------------------2--4--4--------|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4------------------------4--------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6------------2-----4--6--6--------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2---------2--4--4--4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4---------------------------------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6----------/7--6----/7--6---------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2-/5--4----/5--4---4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

Verse 1:

   I saw him turn on like a machine in the park, saying
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4------------------------4--------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6------------2-----4--6--6--------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2---------2--4--4--4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

please come with me, but you've been there before
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4---------------------------------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6----------/7--6----/7--6---------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2-/5--4----/5--4---4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

I saw him whirr away into the night, like a
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4------------------------4--------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6------------2-----4--6--6--------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2---------2--4--4--4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

nightmare on wheels saying 'never again';       (I'd...)
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4---------------------------------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6----------/7--6----/7--6---------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2-/5--4----/5--4---4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

Chorus 1:
    A                    E
I'd give it all up for you
e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------9-----9---9-----9--9--9-|
A|-7-----7---7-----7--7--7--7-----7---7-----7--7--7-|
E|-5-----5---5-----5--5--5--------------------------|
    G                       D
I'd even be a number just for you
e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------7-----7---7-----7--7--7-|
A|-5-----5---5-----5--5--5--5-----5---5-----5--5--5-|
E|-3-----3---3-----3--3--3--------------------------|
    A                    G              F#
The strangest living boy you could ever wish to
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-7-----7---7-----7--7--7--5--5--5--5--4--4--4--4-|
E|-5-----5---5-----5--5--5--3--3--3--3--2--2--2--2-|
   F
see
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--|
E|-1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--|
         E (riff)
"That's me."
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4------------------------4--------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6------------2-----4--6--6--------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2---------2--4--4--4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4---------------------------------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6----------/7--6----/7--6---------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2-/5--4----/5--4---4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

Verse 2:

Yellowed newspapers tell the story of someone
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4------------------------4--------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6------------2-----4--6--6--------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2---------2--4--4--4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

'Do you know this man?'; Tomorrow, the cure.
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4---------------------------------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6----------/7--6----/7--6---------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2-/5--4----/5--4---4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

Only police ever see night time for real
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4------------------------4--------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6------------2-----4--6--6--------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2---------2--4--4--4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

Turn on the light and cry 'no more, no more'     (I...)
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4---------------------------------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6----------/7--6----/7--6---------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2-/5--4----/5--4---4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

Chorus 2:
       A                    E
I was standing outside your door
e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------9-----9---9-----9--9--9-|
A|-7-----7---7-----7--7--7--7-----7---7-----7--7--7-|
E|-5-----5---5-----5--5--5--------------------------|
  G                         D
Waiting for the grey men to go
e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------7-----7---7-----7--7--7-|
A|-5-----5---5-----5--5--5--5-----5---5-----5--5--5-|
E|-3-----3---3-----3--3--3--------------------------|
        A                        G            F#
When my mind turned on me with a vengeance I had never
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-7-----7---7-----7--7--7--5--5--5--5--4--4--4--4-|
E|-5-----5---5-----5--5--5--3--3--3--3--2--2--2--2-|
  F
known
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--|
E|-1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--|

Bridge:
      E (riff)
"My own."
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4-----------------------4---------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6-----------2--------/7--6-/7--6--|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2--------2--/5--4-/5--4--|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0--------0---------------|

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4-----------------------4---------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6-----------2--------/7--6-/7--6--|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2--------2--/5--4-/5--4--|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0--------0---------------|

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4-----------------------4---------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6-----------2--------/7--6-/7--6--|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2--------2--/5--4-/5--4--|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0--------0---------------|

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4-----------------------4---------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6-----------2--------/7--6-/7--6--|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2--------2--/5--4-/5--4--|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0--------0---------------|

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4-----------------------4---------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6-----------2--------/7--6-/7--6--|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2--------2--/5--4-/5--4--|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0--------0---------------|

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4-----------------------4---------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6-----------2--------/7--6-/7--6--|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2--------2--/5--4-/5--4--|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0--------0---------------|

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4-----------------------4---------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6-----------2--------/7--6-/7--6--|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2--------2--/5--4-/5--4--|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0--------0---------------|

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4-----------------------4---------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6-----------2--------/7--6-/7--6--|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2--------2--/5--4-/5--4--|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0--------0---------------|

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4------------------------4--------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6------------2-----4--6--6--------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2---------2--4--4--4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4---------------------------------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6----------/7--6----/7--6---------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2-/5--4----/5--4---4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

Verse 3:

Everyone heard the voice on the radio
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4------------------------4--------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6------------2-----4--6--6--------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2---------2--4--4--4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

saying; "Why move around and waste my time?"
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4---------------------------------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6----------/7--6----/7--6---------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2-/5--4----/5--4---4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

There are no independents anymore
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4------------------------4--------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6------------2-----4--6--6--------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2---------2--4--4--4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

The tape is a circle but who really cares?       (I...)
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4---------------------------------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6----------/7--6----/7--6---------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2-/5--4----/5--4---4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

Chorus 3:
  A                   E
I saw you behind the wall
e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------9-----9---9-----9--9--9-|
A|-7-----7---7-----7--7--7--7-----7---7-----7--7--7-|
E|-5-----5---5-----5--5--5--------------------------|
  G                       D
I even heard you laugh at me
e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------7-----7---7-----7--7--7-|
A|-5-----5---5-----5--5--5--5-----5---5-----5--5--5-|
E|-3-----3---3-----3--3--3--------------------------|
        A                        G           F#
You disgust me tonight with your answer to something
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-7-----7---7-----7--7--7--5--5--5--5--4--4--4--4-|
E|-5-----5---5-----5--5--5--3--3--3--3--2--2--2--2-|
  F
new
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--|
E|-1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--|
          E (riff)
"That's you."
E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4------------------------4--------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6------------2-----4--6--6--------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2---------2--4--4--4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4---------------------------------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6----------/7--6----/7--6---------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2-/5--4----/5--4---4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4------------------------4--------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6------------2-----4--6--6--------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2---------2--4--4--4---2-|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b--0-|

E|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|----4---------------------------------------------|
D|----2-----4--6--6----------/7--6----/7--6---------|
A|-2--------2--4--4--4--2--2-/5--4----/5--4---4-----|
E|-0-----------------2b-0--0------------------2b----|

e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|-1~-----------------------------------------------|
D|-2~-----------------------------------------------|
A|-2~-----------------------------------------------|
E|-0~-----------------------------------------------|

************************************

| b   Bend note
| /   Slide up
| ~   Let note ring out

Last updated: September 10, 2025

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Gary Numan tabs for The machman

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