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Bob Dylan - Changing Of The Guards Ukulele Chords

ChordsG, Em, D, C
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

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

  • Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram
  • Ukulele Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-4-3-2Ukulele Em chord diagram
  • Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram
  • Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram


[G]Sixteen [Em]years,
[G]Sixteen banners [D]united over [Em]the fields
While the [C]good [D]shepherd grieves
Desperate [Em]men, [G]desperate women [D]divided,
Spreading their [Em]wings ‘neath the [C] [D]falling [G]leaves.


Fortune [Em]calls.
I steppe[G]d forth from the [D]shadows, to the [Em]marketplace,
Merchants and [C]thieves, hungry [D]for power, my last deal [Em]gone down.
She’s smelling[G]sweet like the[D]meadows where she [Em]was born,
On midsummer’s [C] [D]eve, near [G]the tower.


[G] [D] [C] [G] [D] [C] [G] [D] [C] [G]


The cold-blooded [Em]moon.
The captain [G]waits above the [D]celebration
Sending his [Em]thoughts to a [C] [D]beloved maid
Whose ebony [Em]face is [G]beyond [D]communication.
The captain is [Em]down but
Still believing that his [C]love [D]will be [G]repaid.


They shaved her [Em]head.
She was torn between [G]Jupiter and [D]Apollo.
A messenger [Em]arrived with a [C]black [D]nightingale.
I seen her on the [Em]stairs and [G]I couldn’t help [D]but follow,
Follow her [Em]down past the fountain where they [C] [D]lifted [G]her veil.


[G] [D] [C] [G] [D] [C] [G] [D] [C] [G]


I stumbled to my [Em]feet.
I rode past [G]destruction in [D]the ditches
With the [Em]stitches still mending ‘neath a [C]heart-shaped [D]tattoo.
Renegade [Em]priests and [G]treacherous young [D]witches
Were [Em]handing out the flowers that I’d[C]gi[D]ven t[G]o you.


The palace of [Em]mirrors
Where dog [G]soldiers are [D]reflected,
The endless [Em]road and the [C]wailing [D]of chimes,
The empty [Em]rooms where her [G]memory is [D]protected,
Where the [Em]angels’ voices
Whisper to the [C]souls [D]of previous [G]times.


[G] [D] [C] [G] [D] [C] [G] [D] [C] [G]


She wakes him [Em]up
Forty-eight hours [G]later, the sun [D]is breaking
Near broken [Em]chains, mountain [C]laurel and [D]rolling rocks.
She’s begging to [Em]know what [G]measures he now will [D]be taking
He’s pulling her [Em]down and she’s
Clutching on to hi[C]s long[D]golden[G]locks.


Gentlemen, he [Em]said,
I don’t [G]need your [D]organization, I’ve shined [Em]your shoes,
I’ve moved your [C]mountains and marked [D]your cards
But Eden is [Em]burning, either get [G]brave for [D]elimination
Or else your [Em]hearts must have the
Courage for the [C]changing[D]of the[G]guards.


[G] [D] [C] [G] [D] [C] [G] [D] [C] [G]


Peace will [Em]come
With tran[G]quility and[D]splendor on the wheels o[Em]f fire
But will [C]offer no [D]reward when her false [Em]idols fall
And [G]cruel death [D]surrenders with [Em]its pale ghost retreating
Between the [C]King and [D]the Queen of [G]Swords.


[Em] [G] [D]

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ArtistBob Dylan
AlbumStreet-Legal
GenresFolk, Rock
Year1978
KeyG

How to play Changing Of The Guards on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Bob Dylan - Changing Of The Guards on ukulele requires 4 chords and 6 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.

Changing Of The Guards uses these transitions most often: G → D (31), D → Em (27), and Em → G (19). 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 - Em chord transition.

1. G → Em chord transition

To move from G to Em;

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

2. G → D chord transition

To move from G to D;

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

3. D → Em chord transition

To move from D to Em;

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

4. Em → C chord transition

To move from Em to C;

  1. While playing Em, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Lift your ring finger from C string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 3.
Em to C

5. C → D chord transition

To move from C to D;

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

6. C → G chord transition

To move from C to G;

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

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Changing Of The Guards.

  • Changing Of The Guards includes 156 chord transitions, 6 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Changing Of The Guards contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Changing Of The Guards connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
    • D → Em: 17%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → D: 24%
    • G → Em: 9%