R&B, Soul

Dock of the Bay Chords

Otis Redding Beginner Key of G 6 Chords 3 min read Updated Jul 2026

Gtap to play

Btap to play

Ctap to play

Atap to play

Etap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · B · C · A · E · D

Dock of the Bay Chords – Guitar

Otis Redding’s soulful classic about watching time pass by the water. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Soul Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light, relaxed strum to match the song’s laid-back feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun

G C

I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ come

G C

Watching the ships roll in

G D

And then I watch ’em roll away again, yeah

Chorus

G C

I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo, I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Verse 2

G C

I left my home in Georgia

G C

Headed for the ‘Frisco bay

G C

I have nothing to live for

G D

Look like nothin’s gonna come my way

Chorus

G C

So I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo, I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Verse 3

G C

Look like nothing’s gonna change

G C

Everything still remains the same

G C

I can’t do what ten people tell me to do

G D

So I guess I’ll remain the same, yes

Chorus

G C

Sittin’ here restin’ my bones

G C

And this loneliness won’t leave me alone

G C

It’s two thousand miles I roamed

G D

Just to make this dock my home

Bridge

G C

Now, I’m just gonna sit at the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo-wee, sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Outro

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay…

Practice tip: Master the simple G-C-D progression before adding the whistling outro; focus on keeping a steady, unhurried tempo throughout.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Dock of the Bay"?

You need 6 beginner-friendly chords: G, B, C, A, E and D.

Is "Dock of the Bay" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 6 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Dock of the Bay" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Dock of the Bay"?

It was written by Otis Redding, Steve Cropper, and released in 1968.

Gtap to play

Btap to play

Ctap to play

Atap to play

Etap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

G · B · C · A · E · D

Dock of the Bay Chords – Ukulele

Otis Redding’s soulful classic about watching time pass by the water. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Soul Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light, relaxed strum to match the song’s laid-back feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun

G C

I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ come

G C

Watching the ships roll in

G D

And then I watch ’em roll away again, yeah

Chorus

G C

I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo, I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Verse 2

G C

I left my home in Georgia

G C

Headed for the ‘Frisco bay

G C

I have nothing to live for

G D

Look like nothin’s gonna come my way

Chorus

G C

So I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo, I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Verse 3

G C

Look like nothing’s gonna change

G C

Everything still remains the same

G C

I can’t do what ten people tell me to do

G D

So I guess I’ll remain the same, yes

Chorus

G C

Sittin’ here restin’ my bones

G C

And this loneliness won’t leave me alone

G C

It’s two thousand miles I roamed

G D

Just to make this dock my home

Bridge

G C

Now, I’m just gonna sit at the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo-wee, sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Outro

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay…

Practice tip: Master the simple G-C-D progression before adding the whistling outro; focus on keeping a steady, unhurried tempo throughout.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Dock of the Bay"?

You need 6 beginner-friendly chords: G, B, C, A, E and D.

Is "Dock of the Bay" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 6 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Dock of the Bay" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Dock of the Bay"?

It was written by Otis Redding, Steve Cropper, and released in 1968.

Gtap to play

Btap to play

Ctap to play

Atap to play

Etap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

G · B · C · A · E · D

Dock of the Bay Chords – Piano

Otis Redding’s soulful classic about watching time pass by the water. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Soul Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light, relaxed strum to match the song’s laid-back feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun

G C

I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ come

G C

Watching the ships roll in

G D

And then I watch ’em roll away again, yeah

Chorus

G C

I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo, I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Verse 2

G C

I left my home in Georgia

G C

Headed for the ‘Frisco bay

G C

I have nothing to live for

G D

Look like nothin’s gonna come my way

Chorus

G C

So I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo, I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Verse 3

G C

Look like nothing’s gonna change

G C

Everything still remains the same

G C

I can’t do what ten people tell me to do

G D

So I guess I’ll remain the same, yes

Chorus

G C

Sittin’ here restin’ my bones

G C

And this loneliness won’t leave me alone

G C

It’s two thousand miles I roamed

G D

Just to make this dock my home

Bridge

G C

Now, I’m just gonna sit at the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo-wee, sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Outro

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay…

Practice tip: Master the simple G-C-D progression before adding the whistling outro; focus on keeping a steady, unhurried tempo throughout.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Dock of the Bay"?

You need 6 beginner-friendly chords: G, B, C, A, E and D.

Is "Dock of the Bay" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 6 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Dock of the Bay" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Dock of the Bay"?

It was written by Otis Redding, Steve Cropper, and released in 1968.

Gtap to play

Btap to play

Ctap to play

Atap to play

Etap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

G · B · C · A · E · D

Dock of the Bay Chords – Banjo

Otis Redding’s soulful classic about watching time pass by the water. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Soul Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light, relaxed strum to match the song’s laid-back feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun

G C

I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ come

G C

Watching the ships roll in

G D

And then I watch ’em roll away again, yeah

Chorus

G C

I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo, I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Verse 2

G C

I left my home in Georgia

G C

Headed for the ‘Frisco bay

G C

I have nothing to live for

G D

Look like nothin’s gonna come my way

Chorus

G C

So I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo, I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Verse 3

G C

Look like nothing’s gonna change

G C

Everything still remains the same

G C

I can’t do what ten people tell me to do

G D

So I guess I’ll remain the same, yes

Chorus

G C

Sittin’ here restin’ my bones

G C

And this loneliness won’t leave me alone

G C

It’s two thousand miles I roamed

G D

Just to make this dock my home

Bridge

G C

Now, I’m just gonna sit at the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo-wee, sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Outro

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay…

Practice tip: Master the simple G-C-D progression before adding the whistling outro; focus on keeping a steady, unhurried tempo throughout.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Dock of the Bay"?

You need 6 beginner-friendly chords: G, B, C, A, E and D.

Is "Dock of the Bay" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 6 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Dock of the Bay" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Dock of the Bay"?

It was written by Otis Redding, Steve Cropper, and released in 1968.

Gtap to play

Btap to play

Ctap to play

Atap to play

Etap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

G · B · C · A · E · D

Dock of the Bay Chords – Mandolin

Otis Redding’s soulful classic about watching time pass by the water. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Soul Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light, relaxed strum to match the song’s laid-back feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun

G C

I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ come

G C

Watching the ships roll in

G D

And then I watch ’em roll away again, yeah

Chorus

G C

I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo, I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Verse 2

G C

I left my home in Georgia

G C

Headed for the ‘Frisco bay

G C

I have nothing to live for

G D

Look like nothin’s gonna come my way

Chorus

G C

So I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo, I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Verse 3

G C

Look like nothing’s gonna change

G C

Everything still remains the same

G C

I can’t do what ten people tell me to do

G D

So I guess I’ll remain the same, yes

Chorus

G C

Sittin’ here restin’ my bones

G C

And this loneliness won’t leave me alone

G C

It’s two thousand miles I roamed

G D

Just to make this dock my home

Bridge

G C

Now, I’m just gonna sit at the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo-wee, sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Outro

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay…

Practice tip: Master the simple G-C-D progression before adding the whistling outro; focus on keeping a steady, unhurried tempo throughout.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Dock of the Bay"?

You need 6 beginner-friendly chords: G, B, C, A, E and D.

Is "Dock of the Bay" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 6 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Dock of the Bay" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Dock of the Bay"?

It was written by Otis Redding, Steve Cropper, and released in 1968.

Gtap to play

Btap to play

Ctap to play

Atap to play

Etap to play

Dtap to play

Key

G

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

G · B · C · A · E · D

Dock of the Bay Chords – Harmonica

Otis Redding’s soulful classic about watching time pass by the water. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Soul Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light, relaxed strum to match the song’s laid-back feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun

G C

I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ come

G C

Watching the ships roll in

G D

And then I watch ’em roll away again, yeah

Chorus

G C

I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo, I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Verse 2

G C

I left my home in Georgia

G C

Headed for the ‘Frisco bay

G C

I have nothing to live for

G D

Look like nothin’s gonna come my way

Chorus

G C

So I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo, I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Verse 3

G C

Look like nothing’s gonna change

G C

Everything still remains the same

G C

I can’t do what ten people tell me to do

G D

So I guess I’ll remain the same, yes

Chorus

G C

Sittin’ here restin’ my bones

G C

And this loneliness won’t leave me alone

G C

It’s two thousand miles I roamed

G D

Just to make this dock my home

Bridge

G C

Now, I’m just gonna sit at the dock of the bay

G C

Watchin’ the tide roll away

G C

Ooo-wee, sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

Outro

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay

G D

Wastin’ time

G C

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay…

Practice tip: Master the simple G-C-D progression before adding the whistling outro; focus on keeping a steady, unhurried tempo throughout.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Dock of the Bay"?

You need 6 beginner-friendly chords: G, B, C, A, E and D.

Is "Dock of the Bay" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated beginner and uses only 6 chords in the key of G, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Dock of the Bay" in?

It is in the key of G.

Who wrote "Dock of the Bay"?

It was written by Otis Redding, Steve Cropper, and released in 1968.