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Sam Cook - A Change Is Gonna Come Ukulele Chords

ChordsG, Am, Em, Bm, A7, D
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to F,C keys to play this song with easier chords.

  • Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
  • Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram
  • Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram
  • Ukulele Bm chord diagram Fingering: 4-2-2-2 Barre at fret 2.Ukulele Bm chord diagram
  • Ukulele A7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-1-0-0Ukulele A7 chord diagram
  • Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram


I was [G]born by the [G]river
[G]In this little old tent [G]
[Am]And just like that [Am]river, I’ve been
[Em]Running ever [Em]since. It’s been a
[G]Long time
[Am]Coming but I [Bm]know
A [Em]change is gonna come [Em]


[G]
It’s been [G]too hard [G]living
[G]But I’m afraid to die [G]
[Am]Cos I don’t know what’s [Am]up there
[Em]Beyond the [Em]clouds. It’s been a
[G]Long time
[Am]Coming but I [Bm]know a
[Em]Change is gonna come [Em]
[G]Oh, yes it is [G]


[Am]So I [Am]go I
[Em]Go to my [Em]brother
[Am]And I say [Am]brother
[Em]Help me [Em]please
[Am]But he just [Am]winds up
[Em]Knocking me
[A7]Down, [A7]back down on my
[D]Knees [D]There was a


[G]Time when I [G]thought
[G]I wouldn’t last too long [G]
[Am]But somehow I was [Am]able
[Em]To carry [Em]on. It’s been a
[G]Long time
[Am]Coming but I [Bm]know a
[Em]Change is gonna come [Em]
[G]Oh, yes it is [G]is

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ArtistSam Cook
AlbumAin't That Good News
GenresR&B, Soul
Year1964
KeyG

How to play A Change Is Gonna Come on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Sam Cook - A Change Is Gonna Come on ukulele requires 6 chords and 8 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.

A Change Is Gonna Come uses these transitions most often: G → Am (7), Am → Em (6), and Em → G (6). 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 - Am chord transition.

1. G → Am chord transition

To move from G to Am;

  1. While playing G, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
G to Am

2. Am → Em chord transition

To move from Am to Em;

  1. Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
  2. Place index finger on A string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on C string fret 4.
Am to Em

3. Em → G chord transition

To move from Em to G;

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

4. Am → Bm chord transition

To move from Am to Bm;

  1. While playing Am, lift your middle finger from G string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on C string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on G string fret 4.
Am to Bm

5. Bm → Em chord transition

To move from Bm to Em;

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

6. Em → A7 chord transition

To move from Em to A7;

  1. While playing Em, first lift your middle finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 1.

7. A7 → D chord transition

To move from A7 to D;

  1. Lift your index finger from C string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Place middle finger on C string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on E string fret 2.

8. D → G chord transition

To move from D to G;

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

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in A Change Is Gonna Come.

  • A Change Is Gonna Come includes 30 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • A Change Is Gonna Come contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how A Change Is Gonna Come connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → Am: 13%
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (27%), G (18%), and D (17%).
    • Em → G: 18%
    • Em → Am: 12%