Sultans of Swing
View chords used in this chart
Intro: Dm - Dm - Dm - Dm - Dm - Dm - Dm - Dm
Dm C Bb A A7
1. You get a shiver in the dark, it's raining in the park but meantime
Dm C Bb A A
south of the river you stop and you hold everything.
F C Bb Dm - Dm Bb - C - C
A band is blowing Dixie double four time, you feel alright when you hear the music ring.
Dm C Bb A A
2. Well now you step inside but you don't see too many faces
Dm C Bb A A
coming in out of the rain they hear the jazz go down.
F C Bb Dm Dm Bb C
Competition in other places, er but the horns, they blowing that sound.
Bb C Dm C Bb Bb C C Dm C Bb Bb C C
Way on down south way on down south London town.
Dm C Bb A A7
3. You check out Guitar George he knows all the chords
Dm C Bb A A7
mind he's strictly rhythm he doesn't want to make it cry or sing.
F C
Yes and an old guitar is all he can afford,
Bb Dm Dm Bb C C
when he gets up under the lights to play his thing.
Dm C Bb A A7
4. And Harry doesn't mind if he doesn't make the scene
Dm C Bb A A7
he's got a daytime job he's doing alright.
F C Bb Dm - Dm Bb - C
He can play the honky tonk like anything saving it up Friday night.
Bb C Dm C Bb - Bb - C - C - Dm C Bb - Bb - C - C
With the Sultans with the Sultans of swing.
Dm C Bb A A7
5. And a crowd of young boys they're fooling around in the corner
Dm C Bb A A7
drunk and dressed in their best brown baggies and their platform soles.
F C Bb Dm - Dm Bb - C
They don't give a damn about any trumpet playing band, it ain't what they call rock and roll.
Bb C Dm C Bb - Bb - C C Dm C Bb - Bb - C - C
And the Sultans yeah the Sultans are playing Creole. Creole babe. Ah
Solo. Dm C Bb A A7 Dm C Bb A A F F C C Bb Bb Dm Dm Bb C C Bb C C
Dm C Bb - Bb - C - C - Dm C Bb - Bb - C - C
Dm C Bb A A
6. And then the man he steps right up to the microphone
Dm C Bb A A
and says at last just as the timebell rings.
F C Bb Dm Dm Bb C
"Goodnight now it's time to go home." Then he makes it fast with one more thing.
Bb C Dm C Bb Bb C C Dm C Bb Bb C C
"We are the Sultans we are the Sultans of swing."
Outro. Dm - Bb - C - C - Dm - Bb - C - C - Dm - Bb - C - C
fade
Dm - Bb - C - C - Dm - Bb - C - C - Dm - Bb - C - C
Dm - Bb - C - C - Dm
How to play Sultans of Swing
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is Dm. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.