Sweet Caroline | TAB
Using TAB, let’s first take a look at the intro of Sweet Caroline as if played without and then with a capo.

F#11 and D/E using a capo on fret 2 is the same thing. I could have called the first chord an E/F# but wanted to point out that these are the same thing.
It’s definitely better to play in A so let’s focus on this, here’s the intro melody, in case you don’t want to play the chord.

Next up, the verse looks like this:

I really like the simplicity of going from an E-shaped A to an A-shaped A, and then the same idea for the D chord, although now it’s an A-shaped D to a C-shaped D.
Finally, the E stays low. On the original recording, it’s just one string but I felt that wasn’t enough when playing live.
Here’s the bridge, the 6 chord is lovely after so many triads.

Finally, the chorus looks like this:

Notice how the last two bars say E, even though it’s an E/G#. D even though it’s a D/F#. It’s an A/E, even though it’s an A/C#, and E/B, even though it’s an E!
The reason for this is that the bass player needs to play E – D – C# – B. As long as he does that, we can just play nice, compact, closely connected chords.
Use the chords and lyrics lesson as well as this TAB to make sense of it all.
Sweet Caroline TAB | Related Pages
Sweet Caroline | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| A | A | D | D |
Where it began, I can’t begin to knowing…
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
- The Gambler
- Islands In The Stream
- Leaving, On A Jet Plane
- Rhinestone Cowboy
- Take Me Home, Country Roads
Neil Diamond tunes
Neil Diamond dropped out of college to go work for Tin Pan Aley as a songwriter as a teenager.
His best tunes include Solitary Man, Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon, I’m A Believer, Red Red Wine, Sweet Caroline, and You Don’t Bring Me Flowers.
Neil Diamond on the web
About me | Dan Lundholm
This guitar lesson by Dan Lundholm features TAB and covers Sweet Caroline. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.