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Bob Dylan - Changing Of The Guards Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsG, Em, D, C
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

GSixteenEmyears,
GSixteenbannersDunitedoverEmthefields
WhiletheCgoodDshepherdgrieves
DesperateEmmen,GdesperatewomenDdivided,
SpreadingtheirEmwings‘neaththeCfallingDleaves.
FortuneEmcalls.
I GsteppedforthfromtheDshadows,totheEmmarketplace,
MerchantsandCthieves,hungryDforpower,mylastdealEmgonedown.
She’s Gsmellingsweetlike DthemeadowswheresheEmwasborn,
Onmidsummer’sCeve,DnearGthetower.
GDCGDCGDCG
Thecold-bloodedEmmoon.
ThecaptainGwaitsabovetheDcelebration
SendinghisEmthoughtstoaCbelovedDmaid
WhoseebonyEmfaceisGbeyondDcommunication.
ThecaptainisEmdownbut
StillbelievingthathisCloveDwillbeGrepaid.
TheyshavedherEmhead.
ShewastornbetweenGJupiterandDApollo.
AmessengerEmarrivedwithaCblackDnightingale.
IseenherontheEmstairsandGIcouldn’thelpDbutfollow,
FollowherEmdownpastthefountainwheretheyCliftedDherGveil.
GDCGDCGDCG
IstumbledtomyEmfeet.
IrodepastGdestructioninDtheditches
WiththeEmstitchesstillmending‘neathaCheart-shapedDtattoo.
RenegadeEmpriestsandGtreacherousyoungDwitches
WereEmhandingouttheflowersthat CI’dgiven Gtoyou.
ThepalaceofEmmirrors
WheredogGsoldiersareDreflected,
TheendlessEmroadandtheCwailingDofchimes,
TheemptyEmroomswhereherGmemoryisDprotected,
WheretheEmangels’voices
WhispertotheCsoulsDofpreviousGtimes.
GDCGDCGDCG
ShewakeshimEmup
Forty-eighthoursGlater,thesunDisbreaking
NearbrokenEmchains,mountainClaurelandDrollingrocks.
She’sbeggingtoEmknowwhatGmeasureshenowwillDbetaking
He’spullingherEmdownandshe’s
Clutchingonto Chis Dlonggoldenlocks.
Gentlemen,heEmsaid,
Idon’tGneedyourDorganization,I’veshinedEmyourshoes,
I’vemovedyourCmountainsandmarkedDyourcards
ButEdenisEmburning,eithergetGbraveforDelimination
OrelseyourEmheartsmusthavethe
CouragefortheCchangingof Gtheguards.
GDCGDCGDCG
PeacewillEmcome
With Gtranquility Dandsplendoronthewheels Emoffire
ButwillCoffernoDrewardwhenherfalseEmidolsfall
AndGcrueldeathDsurrenderswithEmitspaleghostretreating
BetweentheCKingandDtheQueenofGSwords.
EmGD
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.
ArtistBob Dylan
AlbumStreet-Legal
GenresFolk, Rock
Year1978
KeyG
DifficultyEasy

How to play Changing Of The Guards on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Bob Dylan - Changing Of The Guards on guitar requires 4 chords and 6 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.

Changing Of The Guards uses these transitions most often: G → D (31), D → Em (27), and Em → G (19). 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 - Em chord transition.

1. G → Em chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram

Switching from G to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

G to Em

2. G → D chord transition

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

To move 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, played 31 times.

G to D

3. D → Em chord transition

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

Switching from D to Em:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 27 times.

D to Em

4. Em → C chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

To move from Em to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 18 times.

Em to C

5. C → D chord transition

Here's how 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 verse, played 18 times.

6. C → G chord transition

Here's how 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 interlude, played 12 times.

Changing Of The Guards chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Changing Of The Guards.

  • Changing Of The Guards includes 156 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Changing Of The Guards contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Changing Of The Guards 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 → G: 29%
    • D → Em: 17%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → D: 24%
    • G → Em: 9%
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.