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Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A-Changin’ Chords

ChordsC, Am, F, Dm, G7, G
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

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

ComeCgather’roundAmpeople, FwhereveryouCroam
And CadmitthattheDmwaters FaroundyouhaveG7grown
And CacceptitthatAmsoonyou’llbeFdrenchedtotheCbone
IfyourCtimetoAmyouIsworthGsaving,G7thenyou
FbetterstartCswimmingOryou’llFsinklikeaG7stone
FortheCtimesAmtheyare G7achaG7angCing.
ComeCwritersandAmcritics,who FprophesizewithyourCpen
AndCkeepyoureyesDmwide,thechanceFwon’tcome G7again
AndCdon’tspeaktooAmsoon,fortheFwheel’sstillinCspin
Andthere’sCnotellingAmwhothatit’sGnaming.
fortheFloserCnowwillbeFlatertoG7win
FortheCtimesAmtheyare G7achaG7angCing.
ComeCsenators,Amcongressmen,FpleaseheedtheCcall
Don’tCstandintheDmdoorway,don’tFblockuptheG7hall
ForChethatgetsAmhurtwillbeFhewhohasCstalled
There’saCbattle Amoutsideandit’sGraging.
It’llFsoonshakeyourCwindowsandFrattleyourG7walls
FortheCtimesAmtheyare G7achaG7angCing.
ComeCmothersandAmfathers,FthroughouttheCland
AndCdon’t DmcriticizewhatyouFcan’t G7understand
YourCsonsandyourAmdaughtersareFbeyondyour Ccommand
YourColdroadisAmrapidlyGaging.
pleaseFgetouttheCnewoneifyouFcan’tlendyourG7hand
FortheCtimesAmtheyare G7achaG7angCing.
TheClineitisAmdrawn,theFcurseitisCcast.
TheCslowoneDmnowwillFlaterbeG7fast
AstheCpresentAmnowwillFlaterbeCpast.
TheCorderisAmrapidlyGfadingG7
AndtheFfirstoneCnowwillFlaterbeG7last
FortheCtimesAmtheyare G7achaG7angCing.
ArtistBob Dylan
AlbumThe Times They Are A-Changin'
GenresCountry
Year1964
KeyC
DifficultyAdvanced

How to play The Times They Are A-Changin' on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A-Changin' on guitar requires 6 chords and 10 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.

The Times They Are A-Changin' uses these transitions most often: C → Am (20), F → C (15), and G7 → C (15). 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 C - Am chord transition.

1. C → Am chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Am:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 20 times.

C to Am

2. Am → F chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

Am to F

3. F → C chord transition

To move from F to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

F to C

4. C → Dm chord transition

Here's how to move from C to Dm:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G 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 5 times.

C to Dm

5. Dm → F chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

6. F → G7 chord transition

Here's how to move from F to G7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

7. G7 → C chord transition

Here's how to move from G7 to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

8. Am → G chord transition

To move from Am 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 G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

9. G → G7 chord transition

To move from G to G7:

  1. Keep index finger on A string fret 2.
  2. Keep middle finger on E string fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

10. Am → G7 chord transition

Switching from Am to G7:

  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 G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Times They Are A-Changin'.

  • The Times They Are A-Changin' includes 105 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • The Times They Are A-Changin' contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how The Times They Are A-Changin' connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → F: 16%
    • C → Am: 10%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → G7: 3%