Think | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
||: Bb7#9 Eb/Bb :|| x3
| Bb7#9 (Ab F Eb Db Gb) |
Chorus 1
| Bb | Eb Bb |
You better think (think). Think about what you’re trying to do to me.
| Bb | Eb Bb |
Think (think, think). Let your mind go, let yourself be free.
Verse 1
| Bb | Eb Bb |
Let’s go back, let’s go back, let’s go way on, way back when.
| Bb | Eb Bb |
I didn’t even know you, you couldn’t have been too much more than ten (just a child).
| Bb | Eb Bb |
I ain’t no psychiatrist, I ain’t no doctor with degrees.
| Bb | Eb Bb |
But it don’t take too much high IQ’s to see what you’re doing to me.
Chorus 2
| Bb | Eb Bb |
You better think (think). Think about what you’re trying to do to me.
| Bb | Eb Bb |
Yeah, think (think, think). Let your mind go, let yourself be free, ooh.
Bridge 1
| Bb | Db | Eb | Bb (Ab F Eb Db Gb) |
Freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom). Oh, freedom, yeah, freedom, I said.
| Bb | Db | Eb | Bb (Ab F Eb Db Gb) |
Freedom (freedom), oh, oh freedom (freedom). Thinking ’bout freedom, oh freedom, alright now.
Key change
| B | B |
Hey, think about it. Please, think about it.
Verse 2
| B | E B |
There ain’t nothing you could ask, I could answer you but I won’t (I won’t).
| B | E B |
But I was gonna change, but I’m not, if you keep doing things I don’t.
Chorus 3
| B | E B |
You better think (think). Think about what you’re trying to do to me.
| B | E B |
Oh Lord (what you’re trying to do to me), think (think). Let your mind go, let yourself be free.
Verse 3
| B | E B |
People walking around everyday playing games, taking scores.
| B | E B |
Trying to make other people lose their minds, Ah, be careful you don’t lose yours, oh.
Chorus 4
| B | E B |
Think (think). Think about what you’re trying to do to me, ooh-oh.
| B | E B |
Think (think). Let your mind go, let yourself be free.
Middle 8
| E9 | E9 |
You need me (need me) and I need you (don’t you know).
| E9 | E9 (A E D C G) |
Without each other, there ain’t nothing people can do, oh.
Outro
||: B | B :||
Oh, hey, think about it, Baby (What are you trying to do me, baby).
To the bone, Baby, think about it right now, yeah.
Right now (to the bone, forgiveness), woo, right now (to the bone, forgiveness).
Hey, Baby, right now (to the bone, forgiveness), you, think about it, Baby, Baby, Baby. (think about it).
(To the bone, forgiveness) Wo, to the bone, Baby, (to the bone, forgiveness) yeah.
Think Chords: Learn the progressions
The chords for Think are simple, both the verse and chorus are just I – IV – I, like this in the key of Bb:
||: Bb (I) | Eb (IV) Bb (I) :||
We then simply move that up a semi-tone to the key of B. The bridge (“Freedom…”) uses chords outside the key, following the I – bIIIx – IV, you could think of this as the beginning of the Bb Minor Pentatonic.
| Bb (I) | Db (bIIIx) | Eb (IV) | Bb (Ab F Eb Db Gb) |
Speaking of the Minor Pentatonic, the descending line at the end is just that, starting on the b7.
The middle 8 takes it to the bridge as James Brown says and coincidently uses the so-called James Brown chord, although rather than Eb9 like he mainly uses, in Think, this is an E9.
| E9 | E9 | E9 | E9 (A E D C G) |
What you see in brackets are the single notes taking you to the outro.
Members go through all sections (with TAB), starting with the piano intro, which can be played on guitar. Whether you go that far or not isn’t super important.
What is important is to learn the synchronized outro from the Blues Brothers version as most bands tend to play this.
Here’s a link to the complete lesson: Think – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Think is a standard for the Motown/Soul band!
Aretha Franklin‘s Think is a classic found on most soul bands’ set list, especially after it was revived in the Blues Brothers film, using a faster and slightly different arrangement.
What you see above is the original chords with lyrics for Aretha’s original version of Think.
In the Blues Brothers version, they keep going, repeating a few sections before the outro, complete with a third key change and a synchronized outro.
The original version is 2:19, and the Blues Brothers version is 3:15.
You may think(!) it’s a good idea to ask before the gig which version the band does but I’ve found it’s more fun to see if everyone goes up to C in the end or not, it keeps me on my toes.
Think Chords | Related Pages
Five similar tunes with chords and lyrics
- Blame It On The Boogie chords by The Jacksons
- I Feel Good chords by James Brown
- Respect chords by Aretha Franklin
- River Deep – Mountain High chords by Tina Turner
- You Can’t Hurry Love chords by The Supremes
Aretha Franklin tunes
Aretha Franklin – The Queen of Soul, is considered by most critics and peers the greatest singer of all time.
Born in Detroit and looking for a record deal, Aretha seemed like the perfect match for Berry Gordy’s label Motown. However, Aretha’s father had other ideas.
Aretha Franklin on the web
Motown & Soul
Motown & Soul is the best place to start if you want to get better at playing the electric guitar. The harmony is simple and there is room for improvisation.
Learn tunes by The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, and many more.
About me | Dan Lundholm
This was a guitar lesson about Think chords, by Dan Lundholm. Discover more about him and learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.
