Easy tutorial for beginners with some explanations, the tab, the lyrics and the chords to play the rock Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits on guitar.
Sultans of Swing with chords
The three parts are played in the same way.
We will therefore only look at introduction and part 1.
Introduction
To start the song, you have to play two chords in the four-beat group :
First Verse of the Dire Straits song
The first verse has most of the chords of the song. When they are ready, you are almost ready to play Sultans of Swing in one.
Here are the positions you need to know for this first verse :
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.
Second Verse of Sultans of Swing
In the second verse, only three new chords are added. You will need to know the seven from the first verse and these new ones :
When you master those chords, you can follow the newt tab to play the second verse:
Sultans of Swing video with tab
You can play other Rock Tabs or try to improvise following our guitar lessons.
Sultans of Swing lyrics
The song Sultans of Swing 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.
Dire Straits score for guitar
The following score is a “home-made” score that we created according to the above frameworks and explanations.
This score summarizes everything we just covered. You can download it for free to play Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits on guitar.