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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.

Otis Redding - (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsG, B7, C, A, Em, D, F
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

GSittin’inthemorningB7sun
I’llbeCsittingwhentheeveningAcomes
GWatchingtheshipsrollB7inB7
AndICwatch’emrollaway Aagain
GSittingonthedockoftheEmbay
WatchingtheGtideroll Emaway
I’mjustGsittin’onthedockoftheAbaywastingGtimeEm
IGleftmyhomeinB7Georgia
CHeadedforthe‘FriscoAbay
‘CauseGIhadnothintoB7livefor
AndlooklikeCnothing’sgonnacomemyAway
SoI’mjustgonnaGSitonthedockoftheEmbay
WatchingtheGtideroll Emaway
I’mGsittin’onthedockoftheAbaywastingGtimeEm
GLookDlikeCnothing’sgonnachange
GEverythingCstillremainsthesame
GIcan’tDdowhatCtenpeopletellmeGtodo
FSoIguessI’ll Dremainthesame
GSittin’hererestingmyB7bones
AndthisClonelinesswon’tleavemeAalone
It’sGtwothousandmilesIB7roamed
JusttoCmakethisdockmyAhome
Now,I’mjustGSittin’onthedockoftheEmbay
WatchingtheGtideroll Emaway
GSittin’onthedockoftheAbaywastingGtimeEm
GGGEmGGGEm
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.
ArtistOtis Redding
AlbumThe Dock of the Bay
GenresSoul
Year1968
KeyG
DifficultyIntermediate

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

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar B7 chord diagram Fingering: x-2-1-2-0-2Guitar B7 chord diagram

Here's how to move from G to B7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

G to B7

2. B7 → C chord transition

Guitar B7 chord diagram Fingering: x-2-1-2-0-2Guitar B7 chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

Switching from B7 to C:

  1. While playing B7, lift your pinky from E string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

B7 to C

3. C → A chord transition

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

Switching from C to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

C to A

4. A → G chord transition

Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

Here's how to move from A to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 9 times.

A to G

5. G → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from G to Em:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 11 times.

6. G → D chord transition

Here's how to move from G to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

7. D → C chord transition

Switching from D to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

8. C → G chord transition

Switching 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 3 times.

9. G → F chord transition

Switching from G to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

10. F → D chord transition

Switching from F to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse.

(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 (18%).
    • Em → G: 18%
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.