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I Shot The Sheriff chords by Eric Clapton (Official Version)

GuitarPianoUkulele

Gm7
Cm7
Ebmaj7
Dm7
Bb

Chorus 1

I shot the sheriff,

but I did not shoot the deputy

I shot the sheriff,

but I did not shoot the deputy

Verse 1
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
 (E flat minoraj7) All around  (D minor7) in my  (G minor7) home  town
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
 (E flat minoraj7) They're   trying to  (D minor7) track me down  (G minor7) 
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
They  (E flat minoraj7) say       they want to  (D minor7) bring me in guilty  (G minor7) 
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
For the  (E flat minoraj7) killing   of a  (D minor7) depu  ty  (G minor7) 
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
For the  (E flat minoraj7) life      of  (D minor7) a     deputy  (G minor7) but I say
Gm7 
 (G minor7) 
Cm7 
Bb 
Gm7 
 (C minor7)  (B flat major)  (G minor7) 

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Chorus 2

I shot the sheriff,

but I swear it was in self-defense

I shot the sheriff,

and they say it is a capital offense

Verse 2
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
 (E flat minoraj7)  (D minor7) Sheriff John Brown
Gm7 
 (G minor7) always hated me
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
 (E flat minoraj7) For what  (D minor7) I don't  (G minor7) know
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
 (E flat minoraj7) Every time  (D minor7) that I  (G minor7) plant a seed
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
He  (E flat minoraj7) said,     "Kill it be (D minor7) fore  it  (G minor7) grows"
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
He  (E flat minoraj7) said,     "Kill it  (D minor7) before it  (G minor7) grows",
Gm7 
I say  (G minor7) 
Cm7 
Bb 
Gm7 
 (C minor7)  (B flat major)  (G minor7) 

Chorus 3

I shot the sheriff,

but I swear it was in self-defense

I shot the sheriff,

but I swear it was in self-defense

Verse 3
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
 (E flat minoraj7) Freedom  (D minor7) came my way  (G minor7) one day
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
 (E flat minoraj7) And I started  (D minor7) out of  (G minor7) town
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
 (E flat minoraj7) All of a  (D minor7) sudden
Gm7 
I see  (G minor7) sheriff John Brown
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
 (E flat minoraj7)  (D minor7) Aiming to shoot me  (G minor7) down
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
So I  (E flat minoraj7) shot,      (D minor7) I shot him  (G minor7) down,
Gm7 
I  (G minor7) say
Cm7 
Bb 
Gm7 
 (C minor7)  (B flat major)  (G minor7) 

Chorus 4

I shot the sheriff,

but I did not shoot the deputy

I shot the sheriff,

but I did not shoot the deputy

Verse 4
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
 (E flat minoraj7) Reflexes  (D minor7) got the better  (G minor7) of me
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
 (E flat minoraj7) And what  (D minor7) is to be  (G minor7) must  be
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
 (E flat minoraj7) Every day  (D minor7) 
Gm7 
the bucket goes  (G minor7) to the well
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
 (E flat minoraj7) But one day the  (D minor7) bottom will  (G minor7) drop  out
Ebmaj7 
Dm7 
Gm7 
 (E flat minoraj7) Yes, one day  (D minor7) the bottom will  (G minor7) drop out,
Gm7 
but I  (G minor7) say
Cm7 
Bb 
Gm7 
 (C minor7)  (B flat major)  (G minor7) 

Chorus 5

I shot the sheriff,

but I did not shoot the deputy, oh no

I shot the sheriff,

but I did not shoot the deputy, oh no

Outro 1

[Repeat and fade]

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GuitarPianoUkulele

0

Gm7
Cm7
Ebmaj7
Dm7
Bb

Tuning: E A D G B EDifficulty: IntermediateKey: G minorBPM: 94

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Finger positions, low to high (E A D G B e). 0 is open, x is muted.

Gm7: 3-5-3-3-3-3
Cm7: x-3-5-3-4-x
Ebmaj7: x-x-1-3-3-3
Dm7: x-x-0-2-1-1
Bb: x-1-3-3-3-x

Accurately transcribed by the GuitarTuna team.

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This is the definitive original version of I Shot The Sheriff by Eric Clapton, transcribed exactly as it was recorded in the studio. Unlike our simplified arrangement, this chart preserves the precise chord voicings and progressions in the original key of G minor. It is designed for guitarists ready to move past the basics and capture the true feel of Eric Clapton's performance.

I Shot The Sheriff

Eric Clapton

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