Think | TAB
Let’s go through all sections, starting with the piano intro, which can be played on guitar.
What we have here is a Bb7 that goes from minor to major. This means we can call it a Bb7#9. At the end of the bar, we hit an Eb/Bb.
The riff is slightly different in bar one, compared to bars two and three. In bar four, we get the descending riff where everyone joins in. Here it is in TAB (the Blues Brothers version is slightly different).
As we start the chorus, and this goes for the verse as well, it’s just chords I – IV – I, like this:
||: Bb | Eb Bb :||
On the original recording, there are two guitar parts, one plays steady Motown/Soul Esque stabs and the other plays country licks. If you are the only guitarist in the band, aim to blend those two ideas.
The bridge (Freedom) uses more chords as we go I – bIIIx – IV – I, followed by the Minor Pentatonic descending lick.
| Bb | Db | Eb | Bb (Ab F Eb Db Gb) |
After the key change, we simply do all this in B again.
We also have the M8 section that appears after the key change, here we go to chord IV, make it a 9 chord and it sounds more blues, so an E9. Add the minor pentatonic lick at the end, now in B, like this:
| E9 | E9 | E9 | E9 (A E D C G) |
If you are playing the Blues Brothers version you need to play a bridge in B, then go up to C for another verse, chorus, M8, then the outro, all in the key of C.
The outro is not like the verse and chorus, instead, we just stay on the I chord.
Finally, the synchronized outro is a must no matter what version you play, it’s so brilliant! Here displayed in C using TAB.
This may have all sounded a bit complicated, but once you play along with the recordings above, you’ll get the hang of it.
In my experience, what usually happens is that you’ll end up playing the Blues Brothers version with three key changes, one M8 only, and instead of starting in Bb, you’ll start in Ab, few singers can handle Aretha Franklin’s original key signatures.
Luckily, no matter what key or how many changes, it’s the same simple concept throughout, moving Think’s chords around the fretboard isn’t that difficult.
If you are a singer or feel the need to help a singer out, show them the third video in the playlist above and point out that if Lenny Kravitz changes the melody, so can you!
If it was down to me, I’d stick with the original version, blend the two guitar parts, and just borrow that outro. The tempo feels much better on the original recording and the guitar work is sensational.
Think TAB | Related Pages
Think | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn to play Think by Aretha Franklin using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recordings.
||: Bb | Eb Bb :||
You better think (think). Think about what you’re trying to do to me…
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
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
About me | Dan Lundholm
This guitar lesson by Dan Lundholm features TAB and covers Think. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.