R&B, Soul

A Change Is Gonna Come Chords

Sam Cooke Intermediate Key of Bb 5 Chords 2 min read

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Key

Bb Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Capo

None

Chords

Bb · Gm · Eb · F · Dm

A Change Is Gonna Come Chords – Guitar

Sam Cooke’s powerful civil rights anthem about hope and struggle. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Bb.

Soul Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a gentle, arpeggiated fingerpicking pattern for a more authentic sound, and let the vocals lead the emotional delivery.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

F Bb Eb

I was born by the river in a little tent

F Bb Eb F

Oh and just like the river I’ve been running ever since

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Verse 2

F Bb Eb

It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die

F Bb Eb F

’Cause I don’t know what’s up there, beyond the sky

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Bridge

Eb F

I go to the movie and I go downtown

Eb F

Somebody keep telling me, ”Don’t hang around”

Eb Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Verse 3

F Bb Eb

Then I go to my brother and I say, “Brother, help me please”

F Bb Eb F

But he winds up knocking me back down on my knees

F Bb Eb

There been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long

F Bb Eb

But now I think I’m able to carry on

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Chorus

Eb F

Oh, a change is gonna come

Eb F

Oh yes it will

Practice tip: Master the Bb, Eb, and F chord shapes and the transitions between them; the emotional weight of the song comes from the vocal melody, so play the chords softly to support it.

Bbtap to play

Gmtap to play

Ebtap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

Bb Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

Bb · Gm · Eb · F · Dm

A Change Is Gonna Come Chords – Ukulele

Sam Cooke’s powerful civil rights anthem about hope and struggle. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Bb.

Soul Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a gentle, arpeggiated fingerpicking pattern for a more authentic sound, and let the vocals lead the emotional delivery.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

F Bb Eb

I was born by the river in a little tent

F Bb Eb F

Oh and just like the river I’ve been running ever since

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Verse 2

F Bb Eb

It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die

F Bb Eb F

’Cause I don’t know what’s up there, beyond the sky

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Bridge

Eb F

I go to the movie and I go downtown

Eb F

Somebody keep telling me, ”Don’t hang around”

Eb Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Verse 3

F Bb Eb

Then I go to my brother and I say, “Brother, help me please”

F Bb Eb F

But he winds up knocking me back down on my knees

F Bb Eb

There been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long

F Bb Eb

But now I think I’m able to carry on

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Chorus

Eb F

Oh, a change is gonna come

Eb F

Oh yes it will

Practice tip: Master the Bb, Eb, and F chord shapes and the transitions between them; the emotional weight of the song comes from the vocal melody, so play the chords softly to support it.

Bbtap to play

Gmtap to play

Ebtap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

Bb Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

Bb · Gm · Eb · F · Dm

A Change Is Gonna Come Chords – Piano

Sam Cooke’s powerful civil rights anthem about hope and struggle. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Bb.

Soul Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a gentle, arpeggiated fingerpicking pattern for a more authentic sound, and let the vocals lead the emotional delivery.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

F Bb Eb

I was born by the river in a little tent

F Bb Eb F

Oh and just like the river I’ve been running ever since

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Verse 2

F Bb Eb

It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die

F Bb Eb F

’Cause I don’t know what’s up there, beyond the sky

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Bridge

Eb F

I go to the movie and I go downtown

Eb F

Somebody keep telling me, ”Don’t hang around”

Eb Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Verse 3

F Bb Eb

Then I go to my brother and I say, “Brother, help me please”

F Bb Eb F

But he winds up knocking me back down on my knees

F Bb Eb

There been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long

F Bb Eb

But now I think I’m able to carry on

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Chorus

Eb F

Oh, a change is gonna come

Eb F

Oh yes it will

Practice tip: Master the Bb, Eb, and F chord shapes and the transitions between them; the emotional weight of the song comes from the vocal melody, so play the chords softly to support it.

Bbtap to play

Gmtap to play

Ebtap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

Bb Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

Bb · Gm · Eb · F · Dm

A Change Is Gonna Come Chords – Banjo

Sam Cooke’s powerful civil rights anthem about hope and struggle. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Bb.

Soul Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a gentle, arpeggiated fingerpicking pattern for a more authentic sound, and let the vocals lead the emotional delivery.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

F Bb Eb

I was born by the river in a little tent

F Bb Eb F

Oh and just like the river I’ve been running ever since

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Verse 2

F Bb Eb

It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die

F Bb Eb F

’Cause I don’t know what’s up there, beyond the sky

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Bridge

Eb F

I go to the movie and I go downtown

Eb F

Somebody keep telling me, ”Don’t hang around”

Eb Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Verse 3

F Bb Eb

Then I go to my brother and I say, “Brother, help me please”

F Bb Eb F

But he winds up knocking me back down on my knees

F Bb Eb

There been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long

F Bb Eb

But now I think I’m able to carry on

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Chorus

Eb F

Oh, a change is gonna come

Eb F

Oh yes it will

Practice tip: Master the Bb, Eb, and F chord shapes and the transitions between them; the emotional weight of the song comes from the vocal melody, so play the chords softly to support it.

Bbtap to play

Gmtap to play

Ebtap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

Bb Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

Bb · Gm · Eb · F · Dm

A Change Is Gonna Come Chords – Mandolin

Sam Cooke’s powerful civil rights anthem about hope and struggle. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Bb.

Soul Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a gentle, arpeggiated fingerpicking pattern for a more authentic sound, and let the vocals lead the emotional delivery.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

F Bb Eb

I was born by the river in a little tent

F Bb Eb F

Oh and just like the river I’ve been running ever since

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Verse 2

F Bb Eb

It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die

F Bb Eb F

’Cause I don’t know what’s up there, beyond the sky

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Bridge

Eb F

I go to the movie and I go downtown

Eb F

Somebody keep telling me, ”Don’t hang around”

Eb Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Verse 3

F Bb Eb

Then I go to my brother and I say, “Brother, help me please”

F Bb Eb F

But he winds up knocking me back down on my knees

F Bb Eb

There been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long

F Bb Eb

But now I think I’m able to carry on

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Chorus

Eb F

Oh, a change is gonna come

Eb F

Oh yes it will

Practice tip: Master the Bb, Eb, and F chord shapes and the transitions between them; the emotional weight of the song comes from the vocal melody, so play the chords softly to support it.

Bbtap to play

Gmtap to play

Ebtap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

Bb Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

Bb · Gm · Eb · F · Dm

A Change Is Gonna Come Chords – Harmonica

Sam Cooke’s powerful civil rights anthem about hope and struggle. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Bb.

Soul Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a gentle, arpeggiated fingerpicking pattern for a more authentic sound, and let the vocals lead the emotional delivery.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

F Bb Eb

I was born by the river in a little tent

F Bb Eb F

Oh and just like the river I’ve been running ever since

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Verse 2

F Bb Eb

It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die

F Bb Eb F

’Cause I don’t know what’s up there, beyond the sky

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Bridge

Eb F

I go to the movie and I go downtown

Eb F

Somebody keep telling me, ”Don’t hang around”

Eb Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Verse 3

F Bb Eb

Then I go to my brother and I say, “Brother, help me please”

F Bb Eb F

But he winds up knocking me back down on my knees

F Bb Eb

There been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long

F Bb Eb

But now I think I’m able to carry on

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Chorus

Eb F

Oh, a change is gonna come

Eb F

Oh yes it will

Practice tip: Master the Bb, Eb, and F chord shapes and the transitions between them; the emotional weight of the song comes from the vocal melody, so play the chords softly to support it.

Bbtap to play

Gmtap to play

Ebtap to play

Ftap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

Bb Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Range

Varies by singer

Chords

Bb · Gm · Eb · F · Dm

A Change Is Gonna Come Chords – Vocal

Sam Cooke’s powerful civil rights anthem about hope and struggle. Intermediate difficulty in the key of Bb.

Soul Ballad (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a gentle, arpeggiated fingerpicking pattern for a more authentic sound, and let the vocals lead the emotional delivery.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

F Bb Eb

I was born by the river in a little tent

F Bb Eb F

Oh and just like the river I’ve been running ever since

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Verse 2

F Bb Eb

It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die

F Bb Eb F

’Cause I don’t know what’s up there, beyond the sky

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Bridge

Eb F

I go to the movie and I go downtown

Eb F

Somebody keep telling me, ”Don’t hang around”

Eb Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Verse 3

F Bb Eb

Then I go to my brother and I say, “Brother, help me please”

F Bb Eb F

But he winds up knocking me back down on my knees

F Bb Eb

There been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long

F Bb Eb

But now I think I’m able to carry on

F Bb Eb

It’s been a long, a long time coming

F Bb Eb F

But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Chorus

Eb F

Oh, a change is gonna come

Eb F

Oh yes it will

Practice tip: Master the Bb, Eb, and F chord shapes and the transitions between them; the emotional weight of the song comes from the vocal melody, so play the chords softly to support it.