Otis Redding - (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar B7 chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram
[Opening]
[G]Sittin’ in the morning [B7]sun
I’ll be [C]sitting when the evening [A]comes
[G]Watching the ships roll [B7]in [B7]
And I [C]watch ’em roll away a[A]gain
[chorus]
[G]Sitting on the dock of the [Em]bay
Watching the [G]tide roll a[Em]way
I’m just [G]sittin’ on the dock of the [A]bay wasting [G]time [Em]
[verse 2]
I [G]left my home in [B7]Georgia
[C]Headed for the ‘Frisco [A]bay
‘Cause [G]I had nothin to [B7]live for
And look like [C]nothing’s gonna come my [A]way
[verse 3]
So I’m just gonna [G]Sit on the dock of the [Em]bay
Watching the [G]tide roll a[Em]way
I’m [G]sittin’ on the dock of the [A]bay wasting [G]time [Em]
[verse 4]
[G]Look [D]like [C]nothing’s gonna change
[G]E[D]verything [C]still remains the same
[G] I can’t [D]do what [C]ten people tell me [G]to do
[F] So I guess I’ll re[D]main the same
[Closing]
[G]Sittin’ here resting my [B7]bones
And this [C]loneliness won’t leave me [A]alone
It’s [G]two thousand miles I [B7]roamed
Just to [C]make this dock my [A]home
[chorus]
Now, I’m just [G]Sittin’ on the dock of the [Em]bay
Watching the [G]tide roll a[Em]way
[G]Sittin’ on the dock of the [A]bay wasting [G]time [Em]
[G] [G] [G] [Em] [G] [G] [G] [Em]
How to play (Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Otis Redding - (Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay on guitar requires 7 chords and 10 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.
(Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay uses these transitions most often: G → Em (11), Em → G (10), and A → G (9). 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 G - B7 chord transition.
1. G → B7 chord transition
To move from G to B7;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Place pinky on E string fret 2.
2. B7 → C chord transition
To move from B7 to C;
- While playing B7, lift your pinky from E string fret 2.
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
3. C → A chord transition
To move from C to A;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 2.
4. A → G chord transition
To move from A to G;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
5. G → Em chord transition
To move from G to Em;
- While playing G, lift your index finger from A string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
6. G → D chord transition
To move from G to D;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
7. D → C chord transition
To move from D to C;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
8. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
9. G → F chord transition
To move from G to F;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
10. F → D chord transition
To move from F to D;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
(Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in (Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay.
- (Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay includes 63 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- (Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how (Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → D: 24%
- G → F: 9%
After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (17%).- Em → G: 18%