I shot the sheriff - Bob Marley and the Wailers

I  shot the sheriff

Riff:

E|--3--------------------------

B|-----6--3--------3-----------

G|-----------5--3-----5--3-----

D|--------------------------5--

A|-----------------------------

E|-----------------------------

So it’s easy the verse is  Eb – Dm – Gm x4

The Chorus is Gm – Dm  x2

Preceded by the riff

The way to play it is pretty fast reggae, play the chords downbeat on beat 2 and 4, try to concentrate on high notes (string 1 to 4). You can if you want play the double stroke, meaning down & up very quickly on beats 2 and 4 again to create more a strong reggae feel.

For Improvisation, a good old G minor scale and minor penta should work fine on there.

RIFF

Gm  - Dm

I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy

Gm  - Dm

I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy

Verse I

Eb – Dm – Gm

All around in my hometown

Eb – Dm – Gm

They're tryin' to track me down, yeah

Eb – Dm – Gm

They say they want to bring me in guilty

Eb – Dm – Gm

For the killing of a deputy, for the life of a deputy

RIFF . But I say, oh, now, now...

Chorus

Oh, I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self defense

Ooh, ooh, ooh

I said, I shot the sheriff, Oh Lord

And they say it is a capital offense

Ooh, ooh, ooh

Hear this

Verse II

Sheriff John Brown always hated me

For what I don't know

Ev'ry time I plant a seed

He said, "Kill it before it grows."

He said, "Kill them before they grow."

Chorus II

I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self defense

Ooh, ooh, ooh

Where was the deputy?

I said I shot the sheriff but I swear it was in self defense

Verse III

Freedom came my way one day

And I started out of town, yeah!

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, if I am guilty I will pay

Chorus III

I shot the sheriff, but I say, but I didn't shoot no deputy

Ooh, no, oh

I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy

Ooo, ooo, ooh

Verse IV

Reflexes had the better of me

And what is to be must be

Ev'ry 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, I, I, ...

Chorus

I, I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot the deputy, no

(Repeat)