Sultans of Swing Chords

Easy tutorial for beginners with some explanations, the tab, the lyrics and the chords to play the rock Sultans of Swing chords by Dire Straits on guitar.

PDF score of Sultans of Swing for guitar

Sultans of Swing with chords

Introduction of Sultans of Swing with chords

To start the song Sultans of Swing chords with your guitar, you have to play two chords in the four-beat group :

chords sultans of swing
guitar sultans of swing

First verse of Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits with tab and chords

The first verse of Sultans of Swing of Dire Straits contains most of the chords of the song.

Here are the positions you need to know on guitar to play first verse :

chords guitar

When you master those, you can follow the next tab to play first verse :

Remember that the chords are written above the lyrics so that you can play them at the right time. Therefore, it’s better to play while singing. Chords that are to the right of a phrase (not above a word) are played between the two phrases.

sultans of swing lyrics
Tab text
Dm
You get a shiver in the dark
C5 Bb5 A(b9)
It’s a raining in the park but meantime
Dm C5 Bb5 A(b9) A
South of the river you stop and you hold everything
F C5
A band is blowing Dixie, double four time
C5 B5 Bb5 Dm Bb5 C5
You feel alright when you hear the music ring

Second Verse of Sultans of Swing with guitar tab

In the second verse of Sultans of Swing chords, only three new chords are added. You will need to know the seven from the first verse and these new ones on your guitar :

rock chords

When you master those chords, you can follow the next tab to play the second verse of this Dire Straits music :

dire straits tab
Tab text
Dm
Well now you step inside
C5 Bb5 A(b9) A
but you don’t see too many faces
Dm C5 Bb5 A(b9) A
Coming in out of the rain they hear the jazz go down
F C5
Competition in other places
C5 B5 Bb5 Dm Bb C
Uh but the horns they blowin’ that sound
Bb C
Way on down south
Way on down south
Dm Bb C C5/6 C5
London town
Dm Bb C C5/6 C5

You can play other Rock Tabs or try to improvise following our guitar lessons.

Sultans of Swing lyrics

The song Sultans of Swing chords by Dire Straits is composed of two parts (with two verses each ones).

The structure of the lyrics is simple:

Parte 1 – Parte 2 – Parte 3

Part 1

You get a shiver in the dark
It’s a raining in the park but meantime-
South of the river you stop and you hold everything
A band is blowing Dixie, double four time
You feel alright when you hear the music ring

Well now you step inside but you don’t see too many faces
Coming in out of the rain they hear the jazz go down
Competition in other places
Uh but the horns they blowin’ that sound
Way on down south
Way on down south
London town

Part 2

You check out guitar George, he knows-all the chords
Mind, it’s strictly rhythm he doesn’t want to make it cry or sing
They said an old guitar is all, he can afford
When he gets up under the lights to play his thing

And Harry doesn’t mind, if he doesn’t, make the scene
He’s got a daytime job, he’s doing alright
He can play the Honky Tonk like anything
Savin’ it up, for Friday night
With the Sultans
We’re the Sultans of Swing

Part 3

Then a crowd a young boys they’re a foolin’ around in the corner
Drunk and dressed in their best brown baggies and their platform soles
They don’t give a damn about any trumpet playin’ band
It ain’t what they call Rock and Roll
And the Sultans
Yeah, the Sultans, they play Creole
Creole

And then the man he steps right up to the microphone
And says at last just as the time bell rings
“Goodnight, now it’s time to go home”
Then he makes it fast with one more thing
We are the Sultans, We are the Sultans of Swing

If you start guitar, learn how to play the barre chords.


Our score summarizes everything we just covered. You can download it for free to play the song Sultans of Swing chords by Dire Straits on guitar.