ACTIVITY
Private Eyes
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!
Intro
[ver2] [ver2]
Am EmAm Em
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...
Intro to Verse 2:
Am6 Am / Am6 Am G/B
Verse 2 & Chorus: same as above
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
[ver2]
Em– 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
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