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14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?The 100 most repeated chord transitions extracted from thousands of songs. Even the first 10 will transform your guitar practice routine.

Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billy Joe Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsD7, Am7, G7, C7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

D7
D7ItwasthethirdofJune,anotherAm7sleepy,dusty,deltaD7day
D7Iwasoutchoppingcotton,andmyAm7brotherwasbailingD7hay,
AndatG7dinnertimewestoppedandwalkedbacktothehousetoeat.
AndMommaD7holleredoutthebackdoor“Y’allremembertowipeyourfeet!”
AndthensheG7said,IgotsomenewsthismorninfromChoctawRidge
TodayD7BillieJoeMacAllisterjumpedC7offtheTallahatchieD7Bridge.
D7AndPoppasaidtoMommaasheAm7passedaroundtheblackeyedD7peas
D7WellBillieJoeneverhadalickofsenseAm7passthebiscuitsD7please
G7“There’sfivemoreacresinthelowerfortyIgottoplow.
AndMommaD7saiditwasshameaboutBillieJoeanyhow,
SeemslikeG7nothingevercomestonogooduponChoctawRidge.
AndnowD7BillieJoeMcAllisterjumpedC7offtheTallahatchieD7Bridge.
D7AndBrothersaidherecollectedAm7whenheandTom,andBillieD7Joe
D7PutafrogdownmybackattheAm7CarrollCountyPictureD7Show
G7And,“Wasn’tItalkingtohimafterchurch,lastSundaynight.
D7I’llhaveanotherpieceofapplepie,youknow,itdon’tseemright.
IG7sawhimatthesawmillyesterdayuponChoctawRidge.
AndnowyouD7tellmeBillieJoe’sjumpedC7offtheTallahatchieD7Bridge.
D7Mommasaidtome“Childwhat’sAm7happenedtoyour D7appetite?
D7Why,I’vebeencookingallmorning,andyouAm7haven’ttouchedasingleD7bite.
G7ThatniceyoungpreacherBrotherTaylordroppedbytoday.
D7Saidhe’dbepleasedtohavedinneronSunday,D7oh,bytheway.
G7HesaidhesawagirlthatlookedalotlikeyouuponChoctawRidge.
AndsheandD7BillieJoewasthrowingC7somethingofftheTallahatchieD7Bridge.”
D7AyearhascomeandgonesinceweAm7heardthenewsboutBillieD7Joe
D7BrothermarriedBeckyThompsontheyAm7boughtastorein D7Tupelo,
G7TherewasavirusgoingroundPoppacaughtitandhediedlastSpring.
AndnowD7Mommadoesn’tseemtowannadomuchofanything
AndG7me,IspendalotoftimepickinflowersuponChoctawRidge.
AnddropthemD7intothemuddywaterC7offtheTallahatchieD7Bridge.D7
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on guitar.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master guitar today with the most repeated high-impact chord transitions.
ArtistBobbie Gentry
AlbumOde to Billie Joe
GenresCountry
Year1967
KeyD
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Ode to Billy Joe on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billy Joe on guitar requires 4 chords and 3 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

Ode to Billy Joe uses these transitions most often: Am7 → D7 (10), D7 → Am7 (10), and D7 → G7 (10). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with D7 - Am7 chord transition.

1. D7 → Am7 chord transition

Guitar D7 chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-1-2Guitar D7 chord diagram
Guitar Am7 chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-0-1-0Guitar Am7 chord diagram

To move from D7 to Am7:

  1. While playing D7, lift your ring finger from E string fret 2.
  2. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  3. Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

D7 to Am7

2. D7 → G7 chord transition

Guitar D7 chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-1-2Guitar D7 chord diagram
Guitar G7 chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-1Guitar G7 chord diagram

Switching from D7 to G7:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

D7 to G7

3. D7 → C7 chord transition

Guitar D7 chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-1-2Guitar D7 chord diagram
Guitar C7 chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-3-1-0Guitar C7 chord diagram

To move from D7 to C7:

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from E string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

D7 to C7

Ode to Billy Joe chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Ode to Billy Joe.

  • Ode to Billy Joe includes 50 chord transitions, 3 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Ode to Billy Joe connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (51%), G7 (18%), and C (6%).
    • D7 → G7: 18%
    • D7 → C7: 1%
    After Am7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D7 (16%), D (16%), and G (11%).
    • Am7 → D7: 16%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains from real songs. See which songs use each chain and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.