https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/e-c-i-shot-the-sheriff/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:01:34 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/e-c-i-shot-the-sheriff/#post-99724 Tue, 26 Apr 2005 00:53:15 +0000
No i hadn't seen Davids version until you mentioned it, if I had I doubt I would laboured over this one .

To my mind its the little changes that make this song so good. I especially like the Ebmaj7 to F/D then to the Gm in sequence, its a great chord progression.

I was watching the version I have of Eric Clapton and Doyle Bramhall playing it live at the Crossroads Festival on the festival DVD. If you listen carefully this change is played almost ghost-like and as for the solo, well words cannot describe!!!!! I'll lend it to you and let you make your own mind up.

Cheers for now........................]]> Easy Songs Rodders https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/e-c-i-shot-the-sheriff/#post-99724 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/e-c-i-shot-the-sheriff/#post-99276 Fri, 22 Apr 2005 11:11:44 +0000
Nicely laid out and well explained.

Have you seen David Hodge's version of this on the `Easy Songs For Beginners' lesson page. He uses different chords and goes to great lengths to explain the reggie style on it with mp3's.

You're version compliments his well.

Keep em coming Rodders!

Chris]]> Easy Songs dogsbody https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/e-c-i-shot-the-sheriff/#post-99276 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/e-c-i-shot-the-sheriff/#post-8581 Fri, 22 Apr 2005 01:27:00 +0000
Gm…………………355333
Eb/C……………x35343
Ebmaj7.……x68786
F/D………………x57565

All these can be substituted for open
Chords using a capo on the 3rd fret
Although you may find it hard to stop them
Ringing and this song should be played using
A muted reggae rhythm
So chords in order of appearance
Open style.

Em…………………022000
Am7.……………002010
Cmaj7.………x35453
Bm7.……………x24232


Rhythm pattern is DUUD
Play the first down stroke and then follow
It with the UUD in quick succession, quickly
Deadening the ring of the first up stroke and the last
down stroke
Though you should only play a quick DU on the Ebmaj7 and the F/D

OK here is the song

CHORUS 1

(Gm)I shot the sheri(Gm)ff
(Eb/C)But I didn't shoot no (Gm)deputy,
(Gm)I shot the sheri(Gm)ff
(Eb/C)But I didn't shoot no (Gm)deputy,


VERSE 1
(Ebmaj7)all a(F/D)round in my (Gm)home town,
(Gm)They're (Ebmaj7)tryin' to (F/D)track me (Gm)down;
(Ebmaj7)They say they want to (F/D)bring me in (Gm)guilty
(Gm)For the killing of a (F/D)deput(Gm)y,
(Gm)For the life of a (F/D)deputy.
But I say:

RIFF GOES HERE and is played like this


E------------------------------- G------------------------------- B------------------------------- D---5--3------------------------ A---------5--3--1--5--3--1------ E---------------------------3---
CHORUS 2
(Gm)I shot the sheri(Gm)ff.
(Eb/C)but I swear it was in (Gm)selfdefence
(Gm)I shot the sheri(Gm)ff
(Eb/C)and they say it is a (Gm)capital offence

And here re the remaining lyrics, all played as above.
But remember to play the riff after the end of each verse.

VERSE 2
Sheriff john brown always hated me,
For what, I don't know:
Every time I plant a seed,
He said kill it before it grows
He said kill it before they grows
I say.

CHORUS 3
I shot the sheriff.
but I swear it was in self-defence
Where was the deputy?
I say: I shot the sheriff,
But I swear it was in selfdefence.

VERSE 3
Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town,
All of a sudden I saw sheriff john brown
Aiming to shoot me down,
So I shot - I shot - I shot him down and I say:

CHORUS 4
I shot the sheriff,
But I say (but I didn't shoot no deputy
I didn't shoot no deputy
I shot the sheriff.
But I didn't shoot no deputy.

VERSE 4
Reflexes had got the better of me
And what is to be must be:
Every day the bucket a-go a well,
One day the bottom a-go drop out,
One day the bottom a-go drop out.
I say:

CHORUS 5
I shot the sheriff.
Lord, I didn't shot the deputy.
I shot the sheriff
But I didn't shoot no deputy

Good luck and enjoy]]> Easy Songs Rodders https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/e-c-i-shot-the-sheriff/#post-8581