Title: Private Eyes
Artist: Daryl Hall & John Oates
Written by: Daryl Hall, Warren Pash, Sara Allen & Janna Allen
Transcribed by: Rich Challen
No offense to anyone out there, but the only tabs I could find for this song were
75% of the chords were just dead wrong. So I decided to tab a version that you
can play on one guitar.
Bear in mind that many of the “interesting” chords in this song arise from the piano and
guitar playing slightly different things, so some shapes get a bit tricky. Feel free to
out the passing tones (like Dm/A) or make substitutions (G for G/A).
But do NOT substitute for the F/G chord! That took me a while to find but it’s the
secret of the entire song.. and further proof of the underrated genius that is Hall & Oates.
No lead guitar transcribed (it’s mainly simple lines and power chords), and for the
part, use triads up the neck in a steady eighth note pattern. Happy playing!
rchallen@discjocks.com
Intro
[Am] [Em][ver2] [Am] [Em][ver2]
[Dm7] [G/A]
[Am] [Em] [Am] [Em]
[Dm7] [Bb]
Verse 1
[Csus4] [C] [Csus4] [C]
I see you and you see me
[Ab] [Bb]
Watch you blowing the lines when you’re making a scene
[Csus4] [C] [Csus4] [C]
Oh girl you’ve got to know
[Ab] [Bb]
What my head overlooks, the senses will show
[C] [Dm]
To my heart
[Am] [Em]
When it’s watching for lies
[Ab] [F/G]
You can’t escape my
Chorus
[G/A] [Am]
Private eyes
[Em] [Am]
They’re watching you
[Em] [Dm7] [F/G]
They see your every move
[G/A] [Am]
Private eyes
[Em] [Am]
They’re watching you
[Em] [Dm7]
Private eyes
[Bb]
They’re watching you, watching you, watching you...
[Pre-Verse 2]
[Am6] [Am] [Am6] [Am] [G/B]
Verse 2
(same as above)
Chorus
[G/A] [Am]
Private eyes
[Em] [Am]
They’re watching you
[Em] [Dm7] [F/G]
They see your every move
[G/A] [Am]
Private eyes
[Em] [Am]
They’re watching you
[Em] [Dm7]
Private eyes
[Bb]
They’re watching you, watching you, watching you...
Solo
[Am] (4x)
[Ab] (3x)
[G]
Bridge
[Dm] [Dm/A]
Ooh why you try to put up a front for me
[Dm] [Dm/A]
I’m a spy but on your side you see
[Gm]
Slip on into any disguise
[Gm] [E] [Am] (no chords)
I’ll still know you, look into my private eyes
They’re watching you, they see your every move
[F/G] [G/A] [Am]
Oh babe, private eyes
[Em] [Am]
They’re watching you
[Em] [Dm7]
Private eyes
[F/G]
They’re watching you
[Em] [Am]
Private eyes
Chorus chords continue to fadeout. Basically the same each time, but alternate between
and Em each time you lead back into the chorus.
CHORDS:
[Am]: x02210
[Em]: 022000
[Em][ver2]: xx2000
[Dm7]: xx0221
[G/A]: 5x5433
[Bb]: x13331
[Csus4]: x3556x
[C]: x3555x
[Ab]: 466544
[Bb]: 688766
[Dm]: x57765
[F/G]: 3x3211
[Am6]: x02211
[G/B]: x20030
[G]: 355433
[Dm/A]: x07765
[Gm]: 355333
[E]: 022100
