Sam Cook - A Change Is Gonna Come Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar Bm chord diagram
Guitar A7 chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
[Opening]
I was [G]born by the [G]river
[G]In this little old tent [G]
[Am]And just like that [Am]river, I’ve been
[Em]Running ever [Em]since. It’s been a
[G]Long time
[Am]Coming but I [Bm]know
A [Em]change is gonna come [Em]
[verse 2]
[G]
It’s been [G]too hard [G]living
[G]But I’m afraid to die [G]
[Am]Cos I don’t know what’s [Am]up there
[Em]Beyond the [Em]clouds. It’s been a
[G]Long time
[Am]Coming but I [Bm]know a
[Em]Change is gonna come [Em]
[G]Oh, yes it is [G]
[verse 3]
[Am]So I [Am]go I
[Em]Go to my [Em]brother
[Am]And I say [Am]brother
[Em]Help me [Em]please
[Am]But he just [Am]winds up
[Em]Knocking me
[A7]Down, [A7]back down on my
[D]Knees [D]There was a
[Closing]
[G]Time when I [G]thought
[G]I wouldn’t last too long [G]
[Am]But somehow I was [Am]able
[Em]To carry [Em]on. It’s been a
[G]Long time
[Am]Coming but I [Bm]know a
[Em]Change is gonna come [Em]
[G]Oh, yes it is [G]is
How to play A Change Is Gonna Come on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Sam Cook - A Change Is Gonna Come on guitar requires 6 chords and 8 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.
A Change Is Gonna Come uses these transitions most often: G → Am (7), Am → Em (6), and Em → G (6). 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 - Am chord transition.
1. G → Am chord transition
To move from G to Am;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
2. Am → Em chord transition
To move from Am to Em;
- While playing Am, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
3. Em → G chord transition
To move from Em to G;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Place index finger on A string fret 2.
4. Am → Bm chord transition
To move from Am to Bm;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to B string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 4.
- Place pinky on G string fret 4.
5. Bm → Em chord transition
To move from Bm to Em;
- While playing Bm, first lift your index finger and pinky.
- Lift your middle finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on D string from fret 4 to fret 2.
6. Em → A7 chord transition
To move from Em to A7;
- While playing Em, lift your ring finger from D string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 2.
- Place index finger on D string fret 2.
7. A7 → D chord transition
To move from A7 to D;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Place ring finger on B string fret 3.
8. D → G chord transition
To move from D to G;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
A Change Is Gonna Come chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in A Change Is Gonna Come.
- A Change Is Gonna Come includes 30 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- A Change Is Gonna Come contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how A Change Is Gonna Come 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 → Am: 13%
After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (17%).- Em → G: 18%
- Em → Am: 12%