Song: Smooth operator (Single version)
Artist: Sade
Composers: Sade Adu and St. John
Tabbed by DJ 1st Nov 2021
PLEASE NOTE: This is the SINGLE MIX VERSION which is
shorter and misses out the spoken word extended intro
=====================================================
IGNORE THE CHORD BOX DIAGRAMS that the website
displays, they are generated automatically from a
generic database and often don't show the best
options for a particular chord progression. Just use
the voicings suggested in the text column numbers.
[Descending chord riff]
Dm = xx0765 or xx0231
DmM7 = xx0665 or xx0221
Dm7 = xx0565 or xx0211
Dm6 = xx0465 or xx0201
(See the bottom of page for another alternative that
includes descending bass notes)
[Main Verse chords]
Dm7 = x57565 Am11 = x00553
Am7 = 575555 (Dm/A) = x0xxxx
Gm7 = 353333 (Dm/C) = x3xxxx
Dm = x57765
[* Guitar Break- Funky chords option]
Dm = x-x-0-10-10-10
Gm = x-x-x-12-11-10
Am = x-x-x-14-13-12
Please take a second to scroll down to the bottom of
the page and select a star rating for my tab, thanks
=====================================================
Intro
(Mute strings and scrub rhythm)
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
(Bass run)
e|----------------------|
B|----------------------|
G|---5-p4---------------| p = pull-off note
D|---------5-p4---------|
A|---------------5-p4---|
E|----------------------|
[Dm] [DmM7] [Dm7] [Dm6] [Dm] [DmM7] [Dm7] [Dm6]
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
[Dm] [DmM7] [Dm7] [Dm6] [Dm] [DmM7] [Dm7] [Dm6]
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
Verse 1
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7] [Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
Diamond life---------, lover boy----------,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
We move in space with minimum waste,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
And maxi - mum joy------,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7] [Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
City lights--------- and business nights-----,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
When you re - quire street - car de - sire...
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
...For higher heights---------,
[Gm7] [Am7]
No place for be - ginners
[Dm] [DmM7] [Dm7] [Dm6]
Or sensitive hearts------------,
[Gm7] [Am7] [Am11]
When senti - ment is left to chance,
[Gm7] [Am7]
No place to be ending,
[Dm] [Dm/A] [Dm/C] [Dm] N.C.
But somewhere to start-----------! No need to ask...
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Chorus
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
He's a smooth ope - rator-----------,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
Smooth----- ope - rator,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
Smooth ope - rator-----------,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
Smooth----- ope - rator,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
Coast to coast, L. A. to Chi - cago,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
Western male-------,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
A - cross the north and south to Key Largo,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
...Love for sale------------!
[Guitar break]
(See optional funky chords in header information *)
[Dm7] [Gm7] [Am7]
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
[Dm7] [Gm7] [Am7]
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
[Sax solo]
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7] [Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7] [Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
Verse 2
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7] [Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
Face to face----------, each classic case----------,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
We shadow box and double cross,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
Yet need that chase---------, ...a license to love,
[Dm] [DmM7] [Dm7] [Dm6]
Insurance to hold----------------,
[Gm7] [Am7] [Am11]
Melt all your memories and change into gold,
[Gm7] [Am7]
His eyes are like angel's but his heart is...
[Dm] [Dm/A] [Dm/C] [Dm] N.C.
...Cold--------------! No need to ask...
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Chorus
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
He's a smooth ope - rator---------,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
Smooth----- ope - rator,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
Smooth ope - rator-----------,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
Smooth----- ope - rator,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
Coast to coast, L. A. to Chi - cago,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
Western male-------,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
A - cross the north and south to Key Largo,
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
...Love for sale------------!
[Coda - Repeats]
[Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7] [Dm7] [Am7] [Gm7] [Am7]
||: Smooth ope- rator-----, smooth--- ope- rator! :||
=====================================================
[Alternative Intro
and descending chord riff with bass notes]
Dm DmM7/C# Dm7/C Dm6/B Dm/A
e|-------------------|---10----10--|---10----10-----|
B|-------------------|---10----10--|---10----10-----|
G|-------------------|---10----10--|---10----10-----|
D|-10-p9-------------|-------------|----------------|
A|-------10-p9-------|-------------|--------------0-|
E|-------------10-p9-|-10----9-----|-8-----7--------|
p = pull-off note
