Sultans Of Swing Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Sultans Of Swing in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: Bb – C – Dm – Bb
How it goes
Sultans Of Swing sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bb is Bb, D and F; C is C, E and G; Dm is D, F and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BbIVCVDmviBbIV
- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
- DmD · F · A
55 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Bossa sway
How it goes
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: a gentle Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Bossa swayRoot bass rhythm · Bossa novaLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Dawdling chords
How it goes
Two chords, then a lazy late one after beat 3 that catches up on 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Dawdling chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 120 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
5
Ending: Bb – C – F
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF
- FF · A · C

What chords are in Sultans Of Swing?

The loop is Bb – C – Dm – Bb (IV – V – vi – IV) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.

What key is Sultans Of Swing in?

F major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Sultans Of Swing?

Bossa sway: root bass · bossa (1 · 2& · 3 · 4&), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Sultans Of Swing easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.