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Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsD, Em, E, A, G, F#m, Bm, F, A#, D#, G#, Fm, C#
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

[Opening]
[D]
For [D]once in my life, I have someone who needs me;
[Em]Someone I’ve [E]needed so [Em]long.
For [Em]once, un[E]afraid, I can [Em]go where life leads me;
And [D]somehow I [A]know I’ll be [D]strong.

[verse 2]
For [D]once, I can touch what my heart used to dream of,
[G]Long before I [Em]knew; [A]
[D]Someone [F#m]warm like [Bm]you, would [Em]make my dreams come [A]true.

[verse 3]
For [D]once in my life, I won’t let sorrow hurt me;
[Em]Not like it [E]hurt me [Em]before.
For [Em]once I have [E]something, I [Em]know won’t desert me;
[D]I’m not [A]alone any[D]more.

[chorus]
For [D]once, I can say; this is mine you can’t take it;
As [G]long as I know I have [E]love; I can make it.
For [D]once in my life, I have [G]someone [Em]who [A]needs [D]me.
[D]Someone, [F]who needs [A#]me; [D#]someone, [G#]who needs [A#]me.

[verse 4]
[D#] [Fm] [C#] [A#] [Bm] [D#] [A#] [D#] [D#] [G] [F]
For [D#]once in my life, I won’t let sorrow hurt me;
[Fm]Not like it’s [F]hurt me [Fm]before.
For [Fm]once I have [F]something, I [Fm]know won’t desert me;
[D#]I’m not [A#]alone anymore. [D#]

[chorus]
For [D#]once, I can say; this is mine you can’t take it;
As [G#]long as I know I have [F]love; I can make it.
For [D#]once in my life, I have [G#]someone [Fm]who [A#]needs [D#]me.

[Closing]
[D#]Someone, [G#]who needs [A#]me,
[D#]Someone, [G#]who needs [A#]me.

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.
ArtistStevie Wonder
AlbumFor Once in My Life
GenresR&B, Soul
Year1968
KeyD
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play For Once In My Life on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life on guitar requires 13 chords and 28 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.

For Once In My Life uses these transitions most often: A# → D# (6), A → D (5), and D# → G# (5). 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 D - Em chord transition.

1. 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

To move 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.
D to Em

2. Em → E chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar E chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-1-0-0Guitar E chord diagram

To move from Em to E;

  1. Keep middle finger on A string fret 2.
  2. Keep ring finger on D string fret 2.
  3. Place index finger on G string fret 1.
Em to E

3. D → A chord transition

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

To move from D to A;

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

4. D → G chord transition

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

To move from D to G;

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

5. G → Em chord transition

To move 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.

6. Em → A chord transition

To move from Em to A;

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

7. D → F#m chord transition

To move from D to F#m;

  1. While playing D, lift your middle finger from E string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from B string fret 3 to A string fret 4.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 4.

8. F#m → Bm chord transition

To move from F#m to Bm;

  1. Keep index finger on E string fret 2.
  2. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 4 and place it on D string fret 4.
  3. Slide your pinky from D string fret 4 to G string fret 4.
  4. Place middle finger on B string fret 3.

9. Bm → Em chord transition

To move from Bm to Em;

  1. While playing Bm, first lift your index finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your middle finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on D string from fret 4 to fret 2.

10. G → E chord transition

To move from G to E;

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

11. E → D chord transition

To move from E to D;

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

12. D → F chord transition

To move from D to F;

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

13. F → A# chord transition

To move from F to A#;

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

14. A# → D# chord transition

To move from A# to D#;

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 3 to E string fret 3.
  3. Keep ring finger on G string fret 3.
  4. Slide your pinky on B string from fret 3 to fret 4.

15. D# → G# chord transition

To move from D# to G#;

  1. While playing D#, lift your pinky from B string fret 4.
  2. Keep index finger on D string fret 1.
  3. Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
  4. Slide your ring finger from G string fret 3 to E string fret 4.

16. G# → A# chord transition

To move from G# to A#;

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 3 to D string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 4 and place it on G string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on B string fret 3.

17. D# → Fm chord transition

To move from D# to Fm;

  1. While playing D#, lift your middle finger from E string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Slide your ring finger from G string fret 3 to A string fret 3.
  4. Lift your pinky from B string fret 4 and place it on D string fret 3.

18. Fm → C# chord transition

To move from Fm to C#;

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
  2. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to D string fret 3.
  3. Lift your pinky from D string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 4.
  4. Place middle finger on B string fret 2.

19. C# → A# chord transition

To move from C# to A#;

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from B string fret 2 to D string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from D string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 3.
  4. Slide your pinky from A string fret 4 to B string fret 3.

20. A# → Bm chord transition

To move from A# to Bm;

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 3 to B string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 4.
  4. Slide your pinky from B string fret 3 to G string fret 4.

21. Bm → D# chord transition

To move from Bm to D#;

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from B string fret 3 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from D string fret 4 and place it on G string fret 3.
  4. Slide your pinky from G string fret 4 to B string fret 4.

22. D# → G chord transition

To move from D# to G;

  1. While playing D#, lift your pinky from B string fret 4.
  2. Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E string fret 3.
  4. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

23. G → F chord transition

To move from G to F;

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

24. F → D# chord transition

To move from F to D#;

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 3.
  4. Slide your pinky from D string fret 3 to B string fret 4.

25. Fm → F chord transition

To move from Fm to F;

  1. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  2. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  3. Keep pinky on D string fret 3.
  4. Place middle finger on G string fret 2.

26. G# → F chord transition

To move from G# to F;

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

27. G# → Fm chord transition

To move from G# to Fm;

  1. While playing G#, lift your middle finger from A string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from D string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Slide your ring finger from E string fret 4 to A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

28. Fm → A# chord transition

To move from Fm to A#;

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

For Once In My Life chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in For Once In My Life.

  • For Once In My Life includes 68 chord transitions, 28 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • For Once In My Life contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how For Once In My Life 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 → A: 17%
    After D#, the most likely next chords across Chordier are A# (15%), G# (15%), and D (10%).
    • D# → A#: 15%
    • D# → G#: 15%
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.