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.

Russell Morris - The Real Thing Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsB, D, A, E7, F, G, Bb, Dm, C
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

BDAE7
BComeandDseetherealthing,
AComeandseetheE7realthing,comeandBsee
ComeandDseetherealthing,
AComeandseetheE7realthing,comeandBsee
There’saE7meaningtherebuttheDmeaningthere
Doesn’tE7reallymeanaBthing
ComeandDseetherealthing,
AComeandseetheE7realthing,comeandBsee
BIamtherealthing
DOohmowmamowmowFoohmowmamowmow
GOohmowmamowmowBboohmowmamowmow
DOohmowmamowmamowmowmamowmamowmamamowmamowmamamow
BTryingDhardto Aunderstand
ButreallyE7not,you’reseeingBme
TryingDhardto Aunderstand
ButreallyE7not,you’reseeingBme
There’saE7meaningtherebuttheDmeaningthere
Doesn’tE7reallymeanaBthing
ComeandDseetherealthing,
AComeandseetheE7realthing,comeandBsee
BIamtherealthing
DOohmowmamowmowFoohmowmamowmow
GOohmowmamowmowBboohmowmamowmow
DOohmowmamowmamowmowmamowmamowmamamowmamowmamamow
DIamnotseeingyou,Iamnotseeingyou
DAhDmahAaahCaahDaah
BTryingDhardto Aunderstand
ButreallyE7not,you’reseeingBme
TryingDhardto Aunderstand
ButreallyE7not,you’reseeingBme
There’saE7meaningtherebuttheDmeaningthere
Doesn’tE7reallymeanaBthing
ComeandDseetherealthing,
AComeandseetheE7realthing,comeandBsee
BIamtherealthing
DOohmowmamowmowFoohmowmamowmow
GOohmowmamowmowBboohmowmamowmow
DOohmowmamowmamowmowmamowmamowmamamowmamowmamamow
DIamnotseeingyou,Iamnotseeingyou
DAhDmahAaahCaahDaaaaaaah
DOohmowmamowmowFoohmowmamowmow
GOohmowmamowmowBboohmowmamowmow
DIFamGtheBbrealDthingFGBb
DIFamGtheBbrealDthingFGBb
DCGFDCGDDD
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.
ArtistRussell Morris
AlbumWings of an Eagle and Other Great Hits
GenresAlternative, Indie, Pop
Year1973
KeyB
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play The Real Thing on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Russell Morris - The Real Thing on guitar requires 9 chords and 15 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.

The Real Thing uses these transitions most often: B → D (13), E7 → B (13), and A → E7 (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 B - D chord transition.

1. B → D chord transition

Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram

Here's how to move from B to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 13 times.

B to D

2. D → A chord transition

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

Switching from D to A:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

D to A

3. A → E7 chord transition

Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar E7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-1-0-0Guitar E7 chord diagram

To move from A to E7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

A to E7

4. E7 → B chord transition

Guitar E7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-1-0-0Guitar E7 chord diagram
Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram

Switching from E7 to B:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 13 times.

E7 to B

5. E7 → D chord transition

To move from E7 to D:

  1. Slide your index finger on G string from fret 1 to fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

6. D → F chord transition

To move from D to F:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

7. F → G chord transition

To move from F to G:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

8. G → Bb chord transition

Switching from G to Bb:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

9. Bb → D chord transition

Switching from Bb to D:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

10. D → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from D to Dm:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

11. Dm → A chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to A:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

12. A → C chord transition

To move from A to C:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

13. C → D chord transition

To move from C to D:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 2 times.

14. C → G chord transition

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 2 times.

15. G → D chord transition

Switching 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.

The Real Thing chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Real Thing.

  • The Real Thing includes 104 chord transitions, 15 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • The Real Thing contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The Real Thing connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → A: 17%
    • D → C: 14%
    After B, the most likely next chords across Chordier are E (21%), Em (16%), and A (16%).
    • B → D: 4%
    • B → E7: 4%
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.