Skip to song content
Chordier homepage
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?The 100 most repeated chord transitions extracted from thousands of songs. Even the first 10 will transform your guitar practice routine.

Lionel Richie - We Are The World Chords

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

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

  • 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
  • Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
  • Guitar Bm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-3-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar Bm chord diagram
  • Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram Fingering: 2-4-4-2-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar F#m | G♭m chord diagram
  • Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
  • Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-1-3-3-3-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar G# | A♭ chord diagram Fingering: 4-3-1-1-1-x Barre at fret 1.Guitar G# | A♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar D# | E♭ chord diagram Fingering: x-x-1-3-4-3Guitar D# | E♭ chord diagram
  • Guitar Cm chord diagram Fingering: x-3-1-0-1-3Guitar Cm chord diagram
  • Guitar Gm chord diagram Fingering: 3-1-0-0-3-3Guitar Gm chord diagram
  • Guitar Fm chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-1-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar Fm chord diagram

[Opening]
[D]There comes a time when we [G]hear a [A]certain [D]call
‘Cause the [G]world it [A]seems it’s right in this [D]line
‘Cause there’s a [Bm]chance for taking in [F#m]needing our own [Bm]lives
It [Em]seems we [G]need nothing at [A]all

[verse 2]
[D]I used to feel I [G]should give a-[A]way my [D]heart
And it [G]shows that [A]fear of needing [D]them
Then I [Bm]read the headlines and it [F#m]said they’re dying there
And it [Em]shows that [G]we must heed in-[A]stead

[chorus]
We are the [G]world [A]We are the [D]children
We are the [G]ones who make a brighter [A]day so let’s start [D]giving
There’s a [Bm]chance we’re taking we’re [F#m]taking our own lives
It’s [Em]true we’ll make a brighter [A]day just you and [D]me

[verse 3]
[D]Give in your heart and you will [G]see that [A]someone [D]cares
‘Cause you [G]know that [A]they can feed them [D]all
Then I [Bm]read the paper and it [F#m]said that you’ve been denied
And it [Em]shows the [G]second we will [A]call

[chorus]
We are the [G]world [A]We are the [D]children
We are the [G]ones who make a brighter [A]day so let’s start [D]giving
There’s a [Bm]chance we’re taking we’re [F#m]taking our own lives
It’s [Em]true we’ll make a brighter [A]day just you and [D]me

[Closing]
Now [Bb]there’s a time when [C]we must love them [D]all
And it [Bb]seems that life, it [C]don’t make love at [D]all
But if [Bm]you’d been there, and I’ll [F#m]love you more and more
It [Em]seems in [A]life, I didn’t do [D]that

[chorus]
We are the [G]world [A]We are the [D]children
We are the [G]ones who make a brighter [A]day so let’s start [D]giving
There’s a [Bm]chance we’re taking we’re [F#m]taking our own lives
It’s [Em]true we’ll make a brighter [A]day just you and [D]me

[chorus]
We are the [G]world [A]We are the [D]children
We are the [G]ones who make a brighter [A]day so let’s start [D]giving
There’s a [Bm]chance we’re taking we’re [F#m]taking our own lives
It’s [Em]true we’ll make a brighter [A]day just you and [D]me

[chorus]
We are the [Ab]world [Bb](Shalom) We are the [Eb]children (Shalingin)
We are the [Ab]ones who make a brighter [Bb]day (Shalom) so let’s start [Eb]giving
There’s a [Cm]chance we’re taking we’re [Gm]taking our own lives
It’s [Fm]true we’ll make a brighter [Bb]day just you and [Eb]me

[chorus]
Come on, yeah, we are the [Ab]world [Bb](Shalom) We are the [Eb]children (Shalingin)
We are the [Ab]ones who make a brighter [Bb]day (Shalom) so let’s start [Eb]giving
There’s a [Cm]chance we’re taking we’re [Gm]taking our own lives
It’s [Fm]true we’ll make a brighter [Bb]day just you and [Eb]me

[chorus]
Oh yeah, we got it, we are the [Ab]world [Bb](Shalom) We are the [Eb]children (Shalingin)
We are the [Ab]ones who make a brighter [Bb]day (Shalom) so let’s start [Eb]giving
There’s a [Cm]chance we’re taking we’re [Gm]taking our own lives
It’s [Fm]true we’ll make a brighter [Bb]day just you and [Eb]me

Report Error
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.
ArtistLionel Richie
AlbumUSA for Africa
GenresPop, R&B, Soul
Year1985
KeyD

How to play We Are The World on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Lionel Richie - We Are The World on guitar requires 13 chords and 20 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.

We Are The World uses these transitions most often: A → D (20), G → A (17), and D → G (12). 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 - G chord transition.

1. 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

2. G → A chord transition

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

To move from G to A;

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
  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 B string fret 2.
G to A

3. A → D chord transition

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

To move from A to D;

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

4. D → Bm chord transition

Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar Bm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-3-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar Bm chord diagram

To move from D to Bm;

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

5. Bm → F#m chord transition

To move from Bm to F#m;

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

6. 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.

7. Em → G chord transition

To move from Em to G;

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

8. F#m → Em chord transition

To move from F#m to Em;

  1. While playing F#m, first lift your index finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 4 and place it on D string fret 2.
  3. Place middle finger on A string fret 2.

9. 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.

10. D → Bb chord transition

To move from D to Bb;

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

11. Bb → C chord transition

To move from Bb to C;

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

12. C → D chord transition

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.

13. D → Ab chord transition

To move from D to Ab;

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

14. Ab → Bb chord transition

To move from Ab to Bb;

  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.

15. Bb → Eb chord transition

To move from Bb to Eb;

  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.

16. Eb → Ab chord transition

To move from Eb to Ab;

  1. While playing Eb, 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.

17. Eb → Cm chord transition

To move from Eb to Cm;

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

18. Cm → Gm chord transition

To move from Cm to Gm;

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

19. Gm → Fm chord transition

To move from Gm to Fm;

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

20. Fm → Bb chord transition

To move from Fm to Bb;

  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.

We Are The World chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in We Are The World.

  • We Are The World includes 123 chord transitions, 20 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • We Are The World contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how We Are The World 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 → Bm: 5%
    After A, the most likely next chords across Chordier are D (29%), G (13%), and E (12%).
    • A → D: 29%
    • A → G: 13%
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.