#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
From: peter@palin.cc.monash.edu.au (Peter Hawkins)
Sultans Of Swing TAB (Dire Straits)
My apologies for the repost - but for some reason, the original posting
seemed to get cancelled (not by me). I was lucky enough to find a machine
which still held the article and am reposting now. If this one gets cancelled,
I'll try once more from another machine.
Hi,
I was rapt that Martijn posted his TAB version as I had sort of dropped
my transcription after working through the first verse and chorus.
Anyway, since mine is slightly different from Nicks, (BTW - I got mine
from the recording on the "money for nothing" album), and since I have
a copy of the lyrics, I thought I'd throw mine in too - It's fun to
experiment with different versions.
I am using the standard TAB notation as proposed by
robc@Newbridge.COM (Rob Craig), however I am adding a "." (full stop)
above notes to indicate a staccatto (accented, very short note). I also
use "ARP" to indicate that you are to play a broken chord, and one or
more caret "^" characters to indicate a tie. Perhaps Rob could add these?
Also most "labelled chords" (eg The initial D minors) are to be strummed
rapidly. Knopfler uses demi-semi-quavers with certain stokes muted.
INTRO
-----
Dm | Dm . . ARP
e|--5--|--5--------|-----------|------------|----------|-------5--8--5--|
B|--6--|--6--------|-----------|------------|-------6--|------6---------|
G|--7--|--7--5--5--|--5^h7--7^^^^^-------7 ^--------|--7--7----------|
D|--7--|--7--------|-----------|----5/7-----|-----7----|----------------|
A|--5--|--5--------|-----------|------------|----------|----------------|
E|--5--|--5--------|-----------|------------|----------|----------------|
Dm C Bb A
e|-----------------|
B|--6--------------|
G|-----5^h6^p5-----|
D|--------------7^^^
A|-----------------|
E|-----------------|
VERSE
-----
Dm C Bb A
e|----|--5--|--3--1--|--5--|----------------------------|
B|----|--6--|--5--3--|--5--|----------------------------|
G|----|--7--|--5--3--|--6--|-------------------------9~~~
D|^^--|--7--|--5--3--|--7--|--9b(11)--9b(11)b(9)--7-----|
A|----|--5--|--3--1--|--7--|----------------------------|
E|----|--5--|--3--1--|--5--|----------------------------|
C Bb F F
e|---|--3--1--|------------------------|------------|--1--|--1--|
B|---|--5--3--|----10------10------10^^^^^------10--|--1--|--1--|
G|~~-|--5--3--|------------------------|------------|--2--|--2--|
D|---|--5--3--/11------11------11------|----11------|--3--|--3--|
A|---|--3--1--|------------------------|------------|--3--|--3--|
E|---|--3--1--|------------------------|------------|--1--|--1--|
.
e|--------------------|-----|--|---------------------|--------------|
B|--5--5--6^p5^h6^p5--|--3^^^^^^^^---------------6---|--3--6--l(3)--|
G|--5--5--5--5--5--5--|--3^^^^^^^^---------7--------7\--3^^^--l(3)--|
D|--5--5--7--5--7--5--|--3^^^^^^^^---5^h7-----7------|--3^^^--l(3)--|
A|--------------------|-----|--|---------------------|--------------|
E|--------------------|-----|--|---------------------|--------------|
Dm C Bb A
e|-----------|--------------|--5--|--3--1--|--5--5--------|
B|--3/5--5---|--------------|--6--|--5--3--|--5-----------|
G|--3/5--5---|-----------5--|--7--|--5--3--|--6-----6--6^^^
D|--3/5--5---|-----5^h7-----|--7--|--5--3--|--7-----------|
A|----------6b(7)-----------|--5--|--3--1--|--7-----------|
E|-----------|--------------|--5--|--3--1--|--5-----------|
e|--5^h6-----5-----3-----|--1^^^^^^^^^^^--10^p9-------|----------------|
B|-----------------------|-----|-----|-----------h10--|----------------|
G|^^^^^^--6-----4-----2--|-----|-----|----------------|--9\7--6--------|
D|-----------------------|-----|-----|----------------|----------7--5--|
A|-----------------------|-----|-----|----------------|----------------|
E|-----------------------|-----|-----|----------------|----------------|
F F . . .
e|--1--|--1--|--------------------|-----|--|----10---9--|--5--------|
B|--1--|--1--|--5--5--6^p5^h6^p5--|--3^^^^^^^^--10--10--|--6--3--3--|
G|--2--|--2--|--5--5--5--5--5--5--|--3^^^^^^^^----------|-----3--3--|
D|--3--|--3--|--5--5--7--5--7--5--|--3^^^^^^^^----------|-----3--3--|
A|--3--|--3--|--------------------|-----|--|------------|-----------|
E|--1--|--1--|--------------------|-----|--|------------|-----------|
.
e|----------|----------|----------|----|--------|--------|-----------------|
B|--3/5--5^^^^^--3--6--|--3/5--5^^^^^--|--6--5--|--3--6--|--6^p5--5--5/10--|
G|--3/5--5^^^^^--3-----|--3/5--5^^^^^--|--7--5--|--3--7--|--5^^^--5--5/10--|
D|--3/5--5^^^^^--3-----|--3/5--5^^^^^--|--7--5--|--3--7--|--7^p5--5--5/10--|
A|----------|----------|----------|----|--------|--------|-----------------|
E|----------|----------|----------|----|--------|--------|-----------------|
.
e|----------|----|-----------|-------|------------|-------------|
B|--10--8^^^^^^--|--6--5--3^^^^^--6--|--6^p5--5---|-------------|
G|--10--9^^^^^^--|--7--5--3^^^^^--7--|--5^^^--5---|-----------5-|
D|--10--10^^^^^--|--7--5--3^^^^^--7--|--7^p5--5---|-----5^h7----|
A|----------|----|-----------|-------|-----------6b(7)----------|
E|----------|----|-----------|-------|------------|-------------|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This joins to Martijn's version here: (NB Martijn includes FILLS ONLY)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transcribed by: Martijn van Welie (mwelie@cs.vu.nl)
B B R B R B R B
E-9-8-9----10-|--------5---------9-------7------------------
B-8-8-8-10----|------5---5-8(10)---(10)8---8-8(10)8(10)8(10)
G----------10-|-7(9)----------------------------------------
D-------------|---------------------------------------------
A-------------|---------------------------------------------
E-------------|---------------------------------------------
S S S S H
E-------------------|-----10-8----|------------|-------------------
B------8-8\6--6-6-6-|----------10-|-6-6-6-6/8--|-------------------
G--7/9-9-9\7--7-7-7-|-/10------10-|-7-7-7-7/9--|-----5---5---5^7---
D----------8--8-8-8-|-------------|-8-8-8-8/10-|-5-7---7---7-------
A-------------------|-------------|------------|-------------------
E-------------------|-------------|------------|-------------------
B R B R B R S
E-3---------------|-/9-9----------------|-----------------|----------------
B-4(5)4(5)4(5)4-3-|-------10---------10-|-5-5--6-5-6-5--3-|---------6-5----
G-----------------|----------9----------|-5-5--7-5-7-5--3-|-----7-5-----8-7
D-----------------|------------12-11----|-----------------|-5/7------------
A-----------------|---------------------|-----------------|----------------
E-----------------|---------------------|-----------------|----------------
S P S P S
E---------------|---------------------------------------------------------
B-6-6-6-6/8-----|-6-5-3--6-6^5-5--/10-8--6-5-3--6-6^5---------------------
G-7-7-7-7/9--2x-|-7-5-3--7-7^5-5--/10-9--7-5-3--7-7^5----------5----------
D-8-8-8-8/10----|-------------------------------------3/5-7-8-------------
A---------------|---------------------------------------------------------
E---------------|---------------------------------------------------------
B R P R B
E---------12--------------13-|-12^9-------------------------------
B--12(14)----(14)12----------|------10----------10----------------
G-------------------11/14----|---------9-----------(14)12(14)-----
D----------------------------|------------12-11-------------------
A----------------------------|------------------------------------
E----------------------------|------------------------------------
S S S S S 2x P S
E-------------------|-------------|------------|-----------------------
B------8-8\6--6-6-6-|---------6---|--6-6-6-6/8-|-6-5-3--6-6^5-5--/10-8-
G--7/9-9-9\7--7-7-7-|-----7-5---7\|--7-7-7-7/9-|-7-5-3--7-7^5-5--/10-9-
D----------8--8-8-8-|-5/7---------|--8-8-8-8/10|-----------------------
A-------------------|-------------|------------|-----------------------
E-------------------|-------------|------------|-----------------------
P S
E-------------------------|--------------------|-------------------------
B-6-5-3--6-6^5-5----------|--------------------|-------------------------
G-7-5-3--7-7^5-5--------5-|--First-Guitar-Solo-|-repeat-last-lick--------
D----------------3/5-7-8--|--------------------|-------------------------
A-------------------------|--------------------|-------------------------
E-------------------------|--------------------|-------------------------
S S S S S Arp S
E-------7/9-9-(9)/12-12-12\10-|-9-|------------------6-|----------------
B-----------------------------|-5-|-----8-(8)\6-----6--|-------6---6----
G--6--7-7/9---(9)/12----12\10-|-0-|-7/9---(9)\7----7---|-----7---7---7--
D---7-------------------------|---|-------------8------|-5/7------------
A-----------------------------|---|--------------------|----------------
E-----------------------------|---|--------------------|----------------
S 2x P S P S
E-----------|-------------------------------------------------|------------
B-6-6-6-6/8-|-6-5-3--6-6^5-5--/10-8--6-5-3--6-6^5-5-----------|------------
G-7-7-7-7/9-|-7-5-3--7-7^5-5--/10-9--7-5-3--7-7^5-5---------5-|Second-Solo-
D-8-8-8-8/10|---------------------------------------3/5-7-8---|------------
A-----------|-------------------------------------------------|------------
E-----------|-------------------------------------------------|------------
First Guitar Solo:
B B B B H P H P
E---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-----------------------------------------------------------10--------
G--12(14)---12(14)-12(14)-12(14)--10^12^10--9^10^9--------9-----------
D------------------------------------------------------11-------------
A---------------------------------------------------12----------------
E---------------------------------------------------------------------
B R H P
E--12(13)12--10-------------------------------------------------------
B---------------10--------10-13--11^13^11--10---11--9-10--------------
G------------------10-------------------------------------------------
D---------------------12----------------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------------------------
B B R S
E----------------13-------------/13-12--------------------------------
B--------13--------13------------------13----10----13-13--------------
G--12(14)--12(14)----(14)12-10------------12----12--------------------
D---------------------------------------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------------------------
B R B B H
E--------------------------------------13^10----10--------10----------
B--13(15)--(15)13-11-13(15)-13(15)--10-------10----13(15)----10-------
G---------------------------------------------------------------12-10\
D---------------------------------------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------------------------
S H S
E---------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------6---------------------------------------6--------------------
G------7---7-------9-10/12-10--9^10/12---------7---7---0-5--7-5-------
D----8-----------10--------------------------8------------------------
A--8-----------10--------------------------8--------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------------------------
B R
E---------------------------------------------------------------------
B-------8-------------------------------------------------------------
G--7(9)---(9)7-5-7-7--------------------------------------------------
D---------------------------------------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------------------------
Second Guitar Solo:
B B R H P H P H P H P H P
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
B-----------------------------------------------------------------------
G-12(14)-12--10-12-10-----12(14)12--9^12^9--7^9^7--5^7^5----------------
D---------------------12---------------------------------5^7^5----------
A--------------------------------------------------------------5^7^5----
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
P P H P H P H P H P H P H P
E---------------------------8---------8---------8---------8-------------
B-10^8^6^8^6---8----8^10^8-----8^10^8----8^10^8----8^10^8----8^10^8-----
G------------7----9--------9----------9---------9---------9---------9---
D-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
H P B P P P H
E-8----------------------10---------------------------------------------
B---8^10^8------------10----13^10--------------------------10-----------
G----------9---12(14)-------------12^10-12^10-----------10----12--------
D---------------------------------------------12--10^12-----------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
B R P P
E-----------------------12--------10-|--13^10----10--13^10----10--------
B-----10-----11--11(13)----(13)11----|--------10-----------10-----------
G---X------X-------------------------|----------------------------------
D-X------X---------------------------|----------------------------------
A------------------------------------|----------------------------------
E------------------------------------|----------------------------------
P P P P P
E--13^10----10--13^10----10--13^10----10--13^10----10--13^10----10------
B--------10-----------10-----------11-----------11-----------11---------
G-----------------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
P P P P P
E--13^10----10--15^12----12--15^12----12--15^12----12--15^12----12------
B--------11-----------13-----------13-----------13-----------13---------
G-----------------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fade out.
P P P P B B R
E--15^12----12--15^12----12--15^12----12--15^12----12|-15(17)--15(17)15-
B--------13-----------13-----------13-----------13---|------------------
G---------------------------------------------------.|------------------
D---------------------------------------------------.|------------------
A----------------------------------------------------|------------------
E----------------------------------------------------|------------------
B R H P H P H P
E--13------13--15(17)15--13^15^13---------------------------------------
B-----14--------------------------13^15^13--10^13^10--------------------
G-----------------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
You get a shiver in the dark, it's 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 that music ring
You step inside, but you don't see too many faces
Coming in out of the rain to hear the jazz go down
Too much competition, from other places
But not too many horns can make that sound
Way on downsouth, way on downsouth London town
You check out Guitar George; he knows all the chords
Mind he's strictly rhythm he doesn't want to make it cry or sing
And 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 honkytonk just like anything
Saving it up for friday night
With the Sultans, with the Sultans of Swing
And a crowd of young boys they're fooling 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 playing band
It aint what they call Rock and Roll
And the Sultans played Creole
And then the man he steps right up to the microphone
And says at last just as the time bell rings
'Thankyou, goodnight; now it's time to go home'
And he makes it fast with one more thing...
We are the Sultans, We are the Sultans of Swing
--
,----_ ,_ |\ |\ | Peter Hawkins,
/ // \ / / |/ __ _|/ . | Lecturer, Computer Centre
/ // -__/ / /| / | | | | | _______ | Monash University, Australia
\// . /_/ |/\_/ \/\/\/ \__/ / | peter@ccs1.cc.monash.edu.au
--
,----_ ,_ |\ |\ | Peter Hawkins,
/ // \ / / |/ __ _|/ . | Lecturer, Computer Centre
/ // -__/ / /| / | | | | | _______ | Monash University, Australia
\// . /_/ |/\_/ \/\/\/ \__/ / | peter@ccs1.cc.monash.edu.au
