Sultans of Swing

Dire Straits · 149 BPM · 4/4

Sultans of Swing

Dire Straits · Capo 5

0:000:00

CapoPlace capo at fret 5; pitch is unchanged.

A

AYou gCet a shivAmer in the dark, it's Fraining Ein the park, but meantime

SoutAmh of the river,C you stop andE you hold everythingC

CA band is blowing Dixie,G double-four time

GYouF feel alright wheAmn you heFar that mGusic ring

WCell, nAmow you stAep insidCe, but you dEon't see too many faces

CoAmming in Aout of the rain Eto hear the jazz goC down

CCompetition iGn other placFes

FAh, but the horns,Am they blowing Fthat soundG

GWay on doFwn south

GWay onA dFown sGouth,A LoFndonC tGown

GYou chCeck out Guitar George, Ehe knows all the chords

EMiAmnd, he's strictAly rhythm,F he doeEsn't want to make it cry or sCing

CYes and an old guitar Gis all he can affoFrd

FWhen he gets up under the lights Gto plaCy his Gthing

AnAmd Harry doesn't miCmnd if hC#me doesn't Emake the scene

EHe's gotC a daytime jFob, hEe's doing alrighCt

CHe can play the honky-Gtonk like anythinFg

FSaving it up forAm FridFay nighGt

GWith the SFultanGs

GWithA thFe SuGltansA oFf SwGing

GAnd a crowd Amof young Cboys, they'reE fooling around in the cornAmer

AmDrunk and dressed iCn their beFst brown baggies and tEheir platform soles

EThCey don't give a dCmamn about aGny trumpet-playing band

GIFt ain't what they call rock and roll

AGnd the FSultansG

GYeah, the SultanAs, they Fplayed creCole

FCFrCeFoGlFeG

GAnd tAmhen thFe man, he steps riGght up to the microphone

AnAmd saysF at last, just Gas 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"

Tap any line to jump

All Chords Used (8)

KeyC major

CapoFret 5

Tempo~149 BPM

How to play Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits on guitar

This is a great song to learn because it has a driving, classic feel and keeps your right hand busy without being overwhelming. You get a strong sense of momentum at a moderate-fast tempo, so it feels lively and satisfying once it starts to lock in.

The chart uses a mix of open shapes and harder barre shapes, so the main challenge is moving cleanly between them. The opening progression goes D - F - Dm - A#, and that shift into A# is the one to watch closely because it asks for a quick move from easier shapes into a barre grip.

Start by looping D - F - Dm - A# slowly until each change feels automatic. Then practice the same move with a steady pulse, add the rest of the song in small sections, and only bring it up to full tempo when the barre change feels reliable.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.

Looking for more? Browse the full guitar song library or explore chord diagrams.

Tutorials & guides for "Sultans of Swing"

D Chord Guitar — How to Play D Major (Finger Positions + Tips)

Dm7 Chord on Guitar: Two-Finger Open Chord

C Chord Guitar — How to Play C Major (With Diagram)

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