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Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing Ukulele Chords

ChordsDm, C, Bb, A, A7, F
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

DmYougetashiverinthedark,
It’saCrainingintheBbparkbut AmeantimeA7A
DmSouthoftheriveryouCstopandyouhold DmeverythingA7A
FAbandisblowingDixie,doubleCfourtime
BbYoufeelalrightwhenyouhearthemusicDmringBbC
WellnowyouDmstepinsidebutyouCdon’tseeBbtoomanyAfacesA7
DmCominginoutoftheCraintheyheartheBbjazzgoAdownA7
FCompetitioninotherCplaces
UhBbbutthehornstheyblowin’thatDmsound
BbWayCondownsouth
BbWayCondownsouthLondontown
CheckoutDmguitargeorge,CheknowsBballtheDmchordsA7
DmMindhe’sstrictlyrhythm
Hedoesn’tCwanttomakethemBbcryorAsingA7A
FTheysaidanoldguitarisCallhecanafford
BbWhenhegetsupunderthelightstoplayhisDmthingBbC
AndDmHarrydoesn’tCmind,ifBbhedoesn’tAmakethesceneA7A
DmHe’sgotaCdaytimeBbjob,he’sdoing AalrightA7A
FHecanplaythehonkytonklike Canything
BbSavin’itup,forFridayDmnight
BbWithCtheSultans
BbWe’reCtheSultansofSwing
DmThenacrowdayoungboysthey’reaCfoolin’ BbaroundintheAcornerA7A
DmDrunkanddressedintheirbestbrownCbaggies
AndtheirBbplatformDmsolesA7A
FTheydon’tgiveadamnaboutanyCtrumpetplayin’band
BbItain’twhattheycallrockandDmroll
BbThenCtheSultans,BbYeahCtheSultanstheyplaycreole,creole
DmAndthenthemanheCstepsrightBbuptotheAmicrophone
DmAndsaysatClastjustastheBbtimebellAringsA7A
FGoodnight,nowit’sCtimetogohome
BbAndhemakesitfastwithoneDmmorething
BbWeCaretheSultans
BbWeCaretheSultansofDmSwing
AlbumSingle
GenresRock
Year1977
KeyDm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Sultans of Swing on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing on ukulele requires 6 chords and 10 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

Sultans of Swing uses these transitions most often: C → Bb (21), Dm → C (12), and Bb → C (10). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with Dm - C chord transition.

1. Dm → C chord transition

To move from Dm to C:

  1. While playing Dm, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Lift your ring finger from C string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 12 times.

Dm to C

2. C → Bb chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Bb:

  1. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 3.
  2. Place index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Place middle finger on C string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 21 times.

C to Bb

3. Bb → A chord transition

To move from Bb to A:

  1. While playing Bb, lift your ring finger from G string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on C string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 9 times.

Bb to A

4. A → A7 chord transition

Switching from A to A7:

  1. While playing A, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on C string fret 1.

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

A to A7

5. A → Dm chord transition

Switching from A to Dm:

  1. Lift your index finger from C string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on C string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 4 times.

6. Dm → A7 chord transition

Switching from Dm to A7:

  1. While playing Dm, first lift your middle finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on C string fret 1.

This transition appears in the section, played 3 times.

7. A → F chord transition

Here's how to move from A to F:

  1. Lift your index finger from C string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 5 times.

8. F → C chord transition

Switching from F to C:

  1. While playing F, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 6 times.

9. Bb → Dm chord transition

To move from Bb to Dm:

  1. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from G string fret 3 to C string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section, played 8 times.

10. A7 → F chord transition

To move from A7 to F:

  1. Lift your index finger from C string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Place middle finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the section.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Sultans of Swing.

  • Sultans of Swing includes 110 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Sultans of Swing contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Sultans of Swing connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → Dm: 5%
    • C → Bb: 2%
    After Bb, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are F (34%), C (20%), and Dm (9%).
    • Bb → C: 20%
    • Bb → Dm: 9%