Skip to song content
Chordier homepage
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.

Ramblin’ Jack Elliott - Railroad Bill Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsC, E7, F, G, C7, D7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

CRailroadBill,RailroadBill
E7Heneverworked,andheFneverwill,
Andit’sCride,Gride,Cride.
CRailroadBill,heC7ain’tsobad,
FKilledhismomma,shotaD7roundinhisdad
CRideoldGRailroadCBill.
CRailroadBilldonetookmywife.
E7IfI’dsaidaword,he’dhave Ftakenmylife
Andit’sCRideoldGRailroadCBill.
CRailroadBillhewascomingC7downthehill
FLightingcigarswithaD7tendollarbill
CRideoldGRailroad CBill
CTenpolicemen,alldressedinblack,
E7Comingoutofnowhere,walkingFdownthetracks,
Andthey’reClookingforGRailroadCBill
CRailroadBill,comingC7roundthefence
FRobbingapassengertrainforD716cents
I’mgonnaCrideoldGRailroadCBill
CRailroadBillgotinagamblinggame
E7Shotamandown,thoughheFwastoblame
CWhenyouloseyourmind,justGletitCloose
CGotagreatlongpistol,’boutaslongasyourarm,
E7I’mgonnashooteverybodyeverFdonemeharm
Andit’sCride,GBill,Cride.
CGota.38specialonaC7.45frame.
FHowcanImisswhenID7gotdeadaim
CRide,Gride,Cride.
CGonnadrinkmywhiskey,gonnadrinkitinthewind
E7Thedoctorsaidit’dkillme,butheFdidn’tsaywhen,
Andit’sCrideOldGRailroadCBill
CGoinguponthemountain,C7goingoutwest.
FThirtyeightspecialstickingD7outofmyvest.
CRide,GrideBillCRide.
CRailroadBill,RailroadBill
E7Heneverworked,andheFneverwill,
CRide,Gride,Cride.
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.
ArtistRamblin' Jack Elliott
AlbumHard Travelin'
GenresFolk
Year1989
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play Railroad Bill on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Ramblin' Jack Elliott - Railroad Bill on guitar requires 6 chords and 8 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.

Railroad Bill uses these transitions most often: C → G (12), G → C (12), and C → E7 (7). 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 C - E7 chord transition.

1. C → E7 chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar E7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-1-0-0Guitar E7 chord diagram

To move from C to E7:

  1. While playing C, lift your ring finger from A string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

C to E7

2. E7 → F chord transition

Guitar E7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-1-0-0Guitar E7 chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram

To move from E7 to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

E7 to F

3. F → C chord transition

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

Switching from F to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

F to C

4. C → G chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

Here's how to move from C to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

C to G

5. C → C7 chord transition

Switching from C to C7:

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

6. C7 → F chord transition

Switching from C7 to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

7. F → D7 chord transition

Here's how to move from F to D7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

8. D7 → C chord transition

Here's how to move from D7 to C:

  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.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

Railroad Bill chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Railroad Bill.

  • Railroad Bill includes 65 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Railroad Bill contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Railroad Bill connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → C7: 2%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → D7: 0%
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.