For handling the changes in life easier, music is one of the most helpful tools. Giving perspective and context to the transformation, music helps the process, whether personal or collective or negative or positive.
There are many inspirational songs about change in any context. Music accompanied many social, economic, and personal changes throughout history, sometimes with its power to motivate, consolidate, and sometimes just with its soothing effects.
Changes do not always come when you are prepared; sometimes, they just pop out of nowhere, deeply affecting our lives. Some changes are even painful in this sense. But we have to learn how to deal with it because, as the famous Greek philosopher Herakleitos said, “There is nothing permanent except change.”
That is where and when music shows its magic. There are many different songs composed about any type of change. Some of these melodies on the list are the best and most well-known reflective and inspirational songs about change with their tabs or chords included to accompany you through the life of changes.
Wind Of Change – Scorpions
One of the most famous songs about change is Winds Of Change by the German rock band Scorpions. Released in 1990, the song became Scorpions’ most famous power ballad and a historical milestone with its remarks on the change occurring in the world with the fall of the Soviet Union and the Berlin Wall.
With its iconic whistle intro and well-known chorus, the song is pretty straightforward to play with a melodic solo. There is only one barre chord, F, that can be challenging for beginners, but the rest is easy and fun to play, including the lovely solo.
Take me to the magic of the moment
Wind Of Change – Scorpions
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change.
Where Is The Love – Black Eyed Peas
The 2003 hit of American pop band Black Eyed Peas, Where Is The Love, still has much significance. The song talks about discrimination, racism, hatred, and the lack of compassion we face in the world and demands change.
It asks a simple rhetorical question with a pinch of criticism; Where is the love we need to have a better world?
The chords to play the song are conventional and basic with Am, C, G, and F. Simply, you have to practice the rhythm and learn the lyrics to play this touching song.
People killin’, people dyin’
Where Is The Love – Black Eyed Peas
Children hurt, and you hear them cryin’
Can you practice what you preach
Or would you turn the other cheek
Father, Father, Father help us
Send us some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me questionin’
Where is the love?
Where Is The Love Guitar Chords
I Want To Break Free – Queen
With its controversial video clip that Freddie Mercury dresses as a woman, Queen’s 1984 hit I Want To Break Free is commonly associated with Mercury’s desire of a world that he could live his homosexuality more openly.
Mercury sings about the constraints of 80’s England and its rigid social values. He dreams of a world where gender and sexuality are not limitations, where people are ‘free’ to be who they want to be.
The song has a basic structure with palm-muted chords and a simple melodic solo. With a bit of overdrive, it is an utterly entertaining song to play.
I want to break free
I Want To Break Free – Queen
I want to break free
I want to break free from your lies
You’re so self-satisfied I don’t need you
I’ve got to break free.
I Want To Break Free Guitar Tabs
Change – Christina Aguilera
The 2016 hit Change was composed by Christina Aguilera after Orlando Terror Attack. Aguilera wishes for a better world where everybody can be themselves without fear of judgment or discrimination because of their religion, race, or ideology.
Aguilera’s unique vocals and inspirational lyrics were highly rated by music authorities and different audiences. The song’s profit was donated to the Orlando shooting victims.
The slow-ballad style song has a basic strum pattern and 6 easy chords, including a barre chord. Therefore, it is not a complicated song to play with a bit of practice for chords and transitions.
Waiting for a change to set us free.
Change – Christina Aguilera
Waiting for the day when you can be you, and I can be me.
Imagine – John Lennon
Imagine by John Lennon is one of the most iconic, influential, heart-wrenching, and inspiring songs of all time. It has many beautiful messages in every line of the song. Lennon wants us to imagine a world without borders, limitations, and anything that divides people.
It is maybe the most famous song associated with change, many different protests, and peace messages. Lennon declares that global harmony is within our reach only if we reject the mechanisms of social control that restrict human potential and demand change indeed.
The song has many chords. This may seem complicated, but all the song’s chords have comfortable positions and transitions. The strum pattern is also pretty elementary.
Imagine no possessions,
Imagine – John Lennon
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people sharing all the world
Imagine there’s no countries,
Nothing to kill or die for,
And no religion, too,
Imagine all the people living life in peace
One Love – Bob Marley
Bob Marley’s philosophy always was that everyone in the world should stop fighting and become one, a similar sentiment to John Lennon‘s Imagine. 1977 hit One Love shows this sentiment clearly with its call to peace, unity, and harmony for a better world.
Bob Marley suggests love is the key to personal and global change, an eternal message that would never lose its significance.
This reggae song is easy to play and sing. The strum pattern is classic reggae style with mutes on downstrokes and upstrokes with a staccato technique that you don’t let the strings ring for long.
One love, one heart
One Love – Bob Marley
Let’s get together and feel alright.
Let them all pass all their dirty remarks
There is one question I’d really love to ask
Is there a place for the hopeless sinners
Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own beliefs?
The Times They Are-a-Changin – Bob Dylan
The Times Ther Are-a-Changin is the folk anthem of Bob Dylan’s, which is the opener song of his concert for change the night after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. It is selected as one of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone’s magazine.
The song became an anthem for frustrated youth of the era. It summed up the anti-establishment feelings of people who would later be known as hippies. The song’s lasting message of change has always been heavily influential to people’s views on society. Dylan said that he wasn’t referencing any particular political issue, just a general notion of change.
If your time to you
The Times They Are-a-Changin – Bob Dylan
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.
The Times They Are-a-Changin Guitar Chords
Man In The Mirror – Michael Jackson
Suppose you want to change the world start by yourself. This is the powerful message behind Michael Jackson’s 1988 hit song Man In The Mirror.
The song wants us to open our eyes to the hungry children and the homeless on the streets. It criticizes the selfishness surrounding us and invites us to change our ways. It forces us to be better than ourselves yesterday and suggests this is the key to change the world.
Although it can be simplified by ignoring almost many chords used in transitions, the song has a little complicated structure with around 20 chords played throughout the song. You can play it, ignoring the key change and slash chords to make it more basic.
If you want to make the world a better place.
Man In The Mirror – Michael Jackson
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change.
Man In The Mirror Guitar Chords
Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
Sometimes changes in life can be overwhelming and make us lose our feeling of identity or belonging, making us question who we are. Journey’s mega-hit from 1981 Don’t Stop Believing is the perfect response to that hopelessness with its hopeful and encouraging lyrics.
The song has a straightforward yet cool keyboard riff that can be adjusted to guitar with 8th notes of double stops and single notes. The solo is an intermediate-level solo with many techniques such as bends, legatos, and slides.
Overall I would say the song is an intermediate level to play. It is a beautiful anthem of hope and holding on when times are hard.
Don’t stop believin’.
Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
Hold on to that feelin’.
Don’t stop, believin’
Hold on
Don’t Stop Believing Guitar Tabs
We’re Not Gonna Take It – Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister’s signature song We’re Not Gonna Take It from 1984 depicts a rebellion against any kind of authority from personal to social. The song is the anthem for anyone lashing out at an authority figure and ready to put up a fight for change.
The song and its significance have a timeless quality thanks to its all-purpose approach to the battle with the powers in charge. The message is simple yet beautiful; we are not going to take it anymore.
The song is effortless to play with power chords and its simple rhythm.
We’re not gonna take it
We’re Not Gonna Take It – Twisted Sister
Oh no, we ain’t gonna take it
We’re not gonna take it anymore
We’ve got the right to choose it
There ain’t no way we’ll lose it
This is our life, this is our song.
We’re Not Gonna Take It Guitar Tabs
What Do I Know? – Ed Sheeran
What Do I Know is the hit song from 2017 composed and sung by Ed Sheeran. Ed Sheeran, as an apolitical singer has a clear message in the song; we don’t know much, but love can change everything.
The song is played through a simple melody of two strings picked simultaneously. The chords and transitions are not complex, yet you have to get used to the picking style. Also, you will need a capo on the 4th fret to play like the original recording.
I’m just a boy with a one-man show
What Do I Know? – Ed Sheeran
No university, no degree, but lord knows
Everybody’s talking ’bout exponential growth
And the stock market crashing and their portfolios
While I’ll be sitting here with a song that I wrote
Sing, love could change the world in a moment
But what do I know?
One Day – Matisyahu
Like many songs about changing the world, One Day by Matiyashu expresses the hope that all people will live in harmony and peace one day. Released in 2009, the reggae song expresses the hope for an end to violence and a prayer for a new era of peace and understanding.
The song has a fantastic video clip that depicts the desired world of brotherhood and empathy. With the beautiful lyrics, the song and the video are a call for action to change for a better world.
With a C-G-Am-F classic chord transition and a traditional strum pattern, the song is straightforward to play.
One day this all will change, treat people the same
One Day – Matisyahu
Stop with the violence, down with the hate
One day we’ll all be free, and proud to be
A Change Would Do You Good – Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow’s famous song from 1996, A Change Would Do You Good is for the times when we are stuck and need a change in our lives. The tune calls for letting go of the known path and change for a better life.
Sometimes it is not easy to accept change and get out of our comfort zone to make it happen. The lyrics suggest pulling our lives together, taking control, and being the change we deeply crave for.
With 5 open chords, it is a basic song suitable for beginners to play. But if you are an experienced player, you can try to play it on the 8th fret with barre chords like suggested in the tab.
Bottom feeder insincere,
A Change Would Do You Good – Sheryl Crow
High fed low-fat pioneer,
Sell the house and go to school.
Pretty young girlfriend, daddy’s jewel.
I think a change would do you good.
A Change Would Do You Good Guitar Chords
Revolution – The Beatles
The 1968 hit of the legendary band The Beatles, Revolution is utterly a political song that portrays the pacifistic ideology of John Lennon. The song suggests a change in the way we make the changes in the world.
Lennon calls for a revolution and change without violence, which is the ideology that is shared in the 68’ generation. The challenge is to change the world for the better with love instead of bombs and violent mass uprisings.
The song is suitable for intermediate-level players with an intro melody with double stops, verses with barre chords, and little solo transitions.
You say you want a revolution
Revolution – The Beatles
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don’t you know that you can count me out.
A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke
A Change Is Gonna Come was written by Sam Cooke after his family and his band were refused as guests in a hotel in Louisana because of their skin colors. The song quickly became an anthem for the American Civil Rights movement during the ’60s.
The song is critical and hopeful at the same time. It perfectly portrays the hardships of life for African-American people while keeping a positive attitude for the future.
The song is easy to play with mostly open chords, yet the high number of chords can be complicated. But once you learn them, it won’t give you a hard time.
It’s been a long, a long time coming
A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will.
A Change Is Gonna Come Guitar Chords
Changes – Black Sabbath
Released in 1972, Changes is one of the slower songs from heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath. It was written about the separation of the band’s drummer Bill Ward with his wife.
Not all the changes in life are for the better. It is just as it is; everything changes, and we judge them as good or bad. Losing someone you hold dear is one of the most painful feelings in life. The song perfectly covers all these changes and feelings heartbreakingly.
With its slow tempo and 5 easy chords, the song is suitable for beginners who just learned to strum. In addition, there is an F barre chord that is good for practicing the barre chord transitions.
I feel unhappy
Changes – Black Sabbath
I feel so sad
I lost the best friend
That I ever had
I’m going through changes
Waiting For The World To Change – John Mayer
The Grammy winner song by American singer John Mayer, Waiting For The World To Change, was released in 2006 and quickly achieved big success worldwide. The song tells about helplessness to make a difference in the world.
Change is not always easy, especially the change of masses is tough to achieve. Even though some people care about the world and its problems, they wait for others to do something about it. As individuals, they feel powerless to make a difference, which makes them depressed. This is one of the common issues of the modern world, perfectly portrayed by the song.
This song is easy and fun to play with off-beat accented strums and fairly easy chords. However, there is just one barre chord, Bm, that can be challenging for beginners.
It’s hard to beat the system
Waiting For The World To Change – John Mayer
When we’re standing at a distance
So we keep waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change.
Waiting For The World To Change Guitar Chords
What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
What’s Going On is the hit song from American souls singer and composer Marvin Gaye’s pioneer album with the same title. Gaye talks about his concerns about police brutality against war protestors and war itself.
The song craves for a change for the better while the world was changing for, the worse with wars and poverty. When he witnessed the violence against anti-war activists, Gaye asked, “With the world exploding around me, how am I supposed to keep singing love songs?”
The song has some unconventional chords, making it an intermediate level to play. But, all the chords are open chords, so with a bit of practice, you will be able to play them.
Father, father
What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
We don’t need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some loving here today
If Everyone Cared – Nickelback
Canadian rock band Nickelback’s hit song from 2007, If Everyone Cared, is a song about changing the world for the better. As the name suggests, it calls everybody to care about others to make a difference.
The song portrays a world where everybody is the change they want to see globally. With no lies, much love, and generosity, we can build the foundations of a new, better world.
With arpeggiated intro and power chords, the song is perfect for electric guitar. With parts to play with overdrive and clean tones, it is a relatively easy and fantastic song to play.
If everyone cared and nobody cried
If Everyone Cared – Nickelback
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we’d see the day when nobody died
What About Now – Daughtry
What About Now is a song by the rock band Daughtry that was released in 2006. The lyrics sound like they are about a relationship ending, but the video makes it clear that the song is written for compassion and a call to take action to fight poverty.
The song can be interpreted as a lover wanting to change its relationship to the times when it was better, but also it can be interpreted in a social context. The video shows powerful scenes of homeless people, hurricane victims, and others in need and calling people to show some compassion by doing something about it.
The song consists of 8 familiar chords that are easy to play. It may be challenging to learn the chord sheet .first, but you will get it with the easy strum pattern after a few rounds of playing.
Change the colors of the sky.
What About Now – Daughtry
And open up to
The ways you made me feel alive,
The ways I loved you.
For all the things that never died,
To make it through the night,
Love will find you.
I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
Often change needs determination and holding on. Change is achieved by people who do not back down, as Tom Petty sings in his 1989 hit, I Won’t Back Down.
The song protests against the system’s oppression, and it is a message of defiance against forces of difficulty. Even in the hard times, Petty calls people to stay strong and hold their ground to achieve the change.
This song is one of the easiest guitar songs to play with its four basic chords Em, D, G, and C. The strum pattern is also straightforward, making the song perfectly suitable for absolute beginners.
Well I know what’s right
I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around
But I’ll stand my ground
And I won’t back down
(I won’t back down)
Hey, baby, there ain’t no easy way out.
I Won’t Back Down Guitar Chords
I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross
Diana Ross’s pop hit I’m Coming Out became an LGBT anthem after its release in 1980. The song’s powerful lyrics about positive change and self-revelation encouraged many LGBT members who were hiding themselves to live their lives freely.
The phrase “coming out” is commonly used to describe one’s self-disclosure of gender identity in gay subculture since the early 20th century. That is why the song is interpreted as a celebration of LGBT identity.
The song has many barre chords, which may be hard to play for beginner players. But if you are familiar with barre chords, then it is a pretty straightforward song to play with a basic strum pattern and structure.
There’s a new me coming out
I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross
And I just had to live
And I want to give
I’m completely positive.
Change the World – Eric Clapton
Change The World is actually a song written by Gordon Kennedy, but it got popular with the cover of Eric Clapton. The song tells about a man wishing to have some superpowers to make the changes in the world for his beloved one.
The song’s romantic lyrics show once again that love is one of the most powerful motivations for change and transformation.
The song is extremely fun to play with double-stops, nice legato transitions, and intermediate-level melodic solo. The rhythmic main riff is repeated throughout the song, with cool solo transitions in between. It is also a great song to play with your friends on acoustic guitar.
And I can change the world
Change the World – Eric Clapton
I will be the sunlight in your universe
You would think my love was really something good
Baby, if I could change the world
Change the World Guitar Chords
One – U2
” One ” is one of the most famous songs by the Irish rock band U2. The song tells about two different changes; the German reunification after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the process of crises that the four band-members were experiencing.
The band often uses the song for human rights-related events and promotes the possibility of adult unity between peoples and nations, highlighting that it is necessary to recognize and celebrate the differences globally.
It is a relatively easy song to play with Am, D, F, G, and C chords and a classic strumming pattern.
Well it’s too late tonight
One – U2
To drag the past out into the light
We’re one but we’re not the same
We get to carry each other, carry each other
One!
Love Is the Answer – England Dan & John Ford Coley
“Love Is the Answer” is a song written by Todd Rundgren with his band Utopia but the song got famous with its cover by England Dan & John Ford Coley. The song has a classical pop base with a gospel partition in the middle.
The song calls for the world to listen to their hearts to change for a better world. The gospel section in the middle even has a recipe for change, showing love as the key.
The song has many chords and a somewhat complicated structure, making it suitable for more experienced guitar players. The original song was recorded with a half-step down-tuned guitar.
Tell me, are we alive
Love Is the Answer – England Dan & John Ford Coley
Or just a dying planet?
What are the chances?
Ask the man in your heart for the answers
Love Is the Answer Guitar Chords
With My Own Two Hands – Ben Harper
The hit song from 2003, With My Own Two Hands by Ben Harper, is an utterly uplifting tune with its lyrics full of hope and reggae groove. The song is about how one individual can change the world just by going out there and being there for other people.
With just two hands, you can reach out and hold people to comfort them to create a brighter and better world than yesterday. The song suggests this is the change we need.
The tune has only 3 elementary chords, Am, G, and F. The song has a reggae strum pattern accenting the off-beats and playing mutes on beats. It is a great song to get used to the reggae rhythm for beginners.
I can change the world, with my own two hands
With My Own Two Hands – Ben Harper
Make a better place, with my own two hands
Make a kinder place, with my, with my own two hands
With my own, with my own two hands
With My Own Two Hands Guitar Chords
Changes – David Bowie
Changes is the hit song by David Bowie, released in 1971. Bowie wrote this tune when he was going through many personal changes in his life. He wrote this tune just before being a father, one of the most significant personal changes in human life.
Bowie’s wife, Angela, was pregnant, and Bowie got along very well with his father and was very excited to have his own child. This optimism and hopefulness shine through the song.
Although there are some easier versions to play the song, the original sheet has many different chords with little nuances shaping it to a more complex structure. As a result, it is suitable for intermediate to advanced level guitarists.
Strange fascination, fascinating me
Changes – David Bowie
Ah changes are taking the pace I’m going through
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
(Turn and face the strange)
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next – Manic Street Preachers
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next is a song by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. The song was inspired by the idealism of Welsh volunteers who joined the left-wing International Brigades fighting for the Spanish Republic against Francisco Franco’s military rebels.
Sometimes for conformity, people run away from change. The song’s message is clear for these days; for a better world for our children, we should not tolerate it. The lyrics are a bit aggressive, but it must be considered a song written particularly for a civil war.
With 6 conventional easy chords and basic strum patterns, it is a simple song to play. However, there are two different strum patterns for chorus and verse so listen to the song carefully to catch the difference.
Bullets for your brain today
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next – Manic Street Preachers
But we’ll forget it all again
Monuments put from pen to paper
Turns me into a gutless wonder
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next Guitar Chords
Changes – 3 Doors Down
Changes is a song from American alternative rock band 3 Doors Down. The tune is about a man going through severe depression in his loneliness. It is a great song that reminds us not all the changes are for the better, and loneliness can change everything for the worse.
The song has dark and depressing lyrics. It tells about a man who could not handle the changes in his life, asking for help.
Dm, C, F, E, and Am are the chords to play the song. They are all elementary chords that you are familiar with, and the strum pattern is relatively straightforward. This is an excellent song to play for beginners.
There’s no one here to talk to and
Changes – 3 Doors Down
The pain inside is making me numb
I try to hold this under control
They can’t help me ’cause no one knows
Now I’m going through changes, changes
God, I feel so frustrated lately
When I get suffocated, save me
Changed – Rascal Flatts
Changed is a country song from Rascal Flatts, which tells about a spiritual transformation that the singer had after his baptism. After he got the holy water, he felt all the sins from his past washed away, giving him a sense of clarity and relaxation.
One of the most effective changes is spiritual change. Indeed, belief is a vital tool for change. It does not have to be a belief in a religion or supernatural thing, but belief in others or love can change everything for the better.
The song is reasonably basic structured with 6 basic chords, including a barre chord. If you have a hard time with barre chords, you can try other versions of Bm chords with more comfortable finger positions.
I came up out of the water
Changed – Rascal Flatts
Raise my hands up to the Father
Gave it all to him that day.
We Are The World – USA For Africa
In 1985 Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie composed the song We Are The World to sing with a large group of famous musicians formed especially for the occasion; the USA For Africa. This was a humanitarian fundraising project to help poor people in the African continent, especially Ethiopia.
The song has emotional lyrics that cry for help. It clearly states the way we are living is not sustainable, with many children dying of hunger. With over $50 million raised for charity, the song became a big part of the change it wanted to see in the world.
With three barre chords, the song is suitable for intermediate-level players. It is a beautiful song to play and sing with its slow tempo and emotional lyrics. It is also a great way to practice barre chord changes.
We can’t go on
We Are The World – USA For Africa
Pretending day-by-day
That someone, somewhere soon make a change
We’re all a part of God’s great big family
And the truth, you know, love is all we need
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving
We Are The World Guitar Chords
We Shall Overcome – Joan Baez
We Shall Overcome is a protest song that became an anthem of the African-American Civil Rights Movement. With its lyrics from a gospel song, the song is a folk ballad covered by many musicians. However, the most famous version is sung by the beautiful voice of Joan Baez.
The song has simple lyrics that repeat that we shall overcome the problems we face to create a better world where we live as brothers and sisters.
The song has pretty easy chords with just one barre chord. But the strum pattern is straightforward with steady downstrokes in a slow tempo. Thus, it won’t be challenging for most of the players. Don’t forget that the song is played with a capo on the 3rd fret.
Oh, deep in my heart,
We Shall Overcome – Joan Baez
I do believe
We shall overcome, someday.
We’ll walk hand in hand,
We shall all be free,
We are not afraid, today.
We Shall Overcome Guitar Chords
If You’re Out There – John Legend
2008 John Legen hit If You’re Out There is an R&B song that calls the new generations for action to deal with the world’s problems. It says that the time has come for the children of the earth to lead the change in the world.
The lyrics are an urgent call to conquer hunger, hate, and violence through love. The song succeeds in making the listener believe a better world is possible.
The song is played with the same chord transition from the beginning to the end; F – C – G. It is a good song for beginners to practice the F barre chord.
We’ve been looking for a song to sing
If You’re Out There – John Legend
Searched for a melody
Searched for someone to lead
We’ve been looking for the world to change
If you feel the same
Then go on and say
If You’re Out There Guitar Chords
Rivers And Roads – The Head And The Heart
Rivers And Road is a beautiful and sad acoustic song from The Head And The Heart that was released back in 2011. The song narrates about the crossroads a young man faces just before his graduation.
Change can be sad and scary. Losing friends, going to a different city to start a new life, getting away from your loved one breaks people’s hearts in a way that is hard to describe. But this song portrays these feelings perfectly in a melancholic way.
The song consists of 3 easy chords, Am, C and F. The strumming pattern is also slow and easy, making the song perfect for absolute beginners.
Been talkin’ ’bout the way things change
Rivers And Roads – The Head And The Heart
And my family lives in a different state
If you don’t know what to make of this
Then we will not relate.
Rivers and Roads Guitar Chords
Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
Landslide is the hit song performed by Fleetwood Mac released back in 1975. It is one of the most famous songs of Fleetwood Mac. It is about the singer’s hard time dealing with the changes in her life.
When you build your life around just one person, there is always a danger of everything collapsing, changing your life from top to bottom. Because relationships end, children go away, and sadly people die. The song is about this realization and fear of change.
The song has many nice arpeggios and melodic transitions with legatos, making it very fun to play.
You will need a good fingerpicking technique to play the song, so it is more suitable for experienced players.
Well, I’ve been afraid of changing
Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
‘Cause I built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I’m getting older, too.
Everybody’s Changing – Keane
Everybody’s Changing is the hit song from the English band Keane from 2004. The song is about death, the ultimate change, and how the singer deals with the idea of it.
Either the death of a loved one or the death of ourselves, the idea of mortality is not easy to cope with. Yet, it is the change that every one of us must go through affecting our lives in every possible way.
The song has many arpeggios and nuances, making it an intermediate-level song to play. However, it is a great song to play on an acoustic guitar.
So little time
Everybody’s Changing – Keane
Try to understand that I’m
Trying to make a move just to stay in the game
I try to stay awake and remember my name
But Everybody’s Changing, and I don’t feel the same
Everybody’s Changing Guitar Tabs
Change – Blind Melon
Change is the hit song from 1992 by the American indie rock band Blind Melon. The tune is about the protagonist’s change during a hard time in his life.
Sometimes the change is necessary to see the sun in dark times. This song ideally encourages that personal transformation to have a better life. In this sense, this is a song of hope and keeping the dreams alive.
The song has 3 primary chords with 3 variations of each chord played throughout the song. Some of the variations have unconventional finger positions making this song suitable for intermediate-level players.
And oh as I fade away
Change – Blind Melon
They’ll all look at me and say
Yeah they’ll look at me and say
“Hey look at him, and where he is these days?”
When life is hard you have to change
From Little Things Big Things Grow – Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody
From Little Things Big Things Grow” is a protest song recorded by Australian artists Paul Kelly & The Messengers in 1991. The song tells about the story of the Gurindji strike, the Indigenous people’s struggle for land rights in Australia, and reconciliation.
The song is composed to raise awareness of Indigenous rights, particularly in Australia. It narrates a historical change poetically and emotionally.
With 4 of the easiest chords, C, Am, Em, G, and a simple strum pattern, this song is perfect for absolute beginners. Be aware that the song is played with a capo on the 4th fret.
From little things, big things grow
From Little Things Big Things Grow – Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody
Gurindji were working for nothing but rations
Where once they had gathered the wealth of the land
Daily the oppression got tighter and tighter
Gurindji decided they must make a stand
They picked up their swags and started off walking
From Little Things Big Things Grow Guitar Chords
Something In The Air – Thunderclap Newman
1969 hit song Something In The Air by Thunderclap Newman is a beautiful song that reflects the social change in the 1960s. The song says revolutions come with violence and that it is necessary.
Although I don’t like the song’s message, I have put it on the list because it reflects the revolution and change mindset some people share. It also reflects the desire for change at the time, so hard that it can shift to violence.
The song appeared in many movies and media, such as the movies Almost Famous and The Girl Next Door. It has many arpeggiated chords with many nuances, making it an advanced-level song for experienced players.
Lock up the streets and houses
Something In The Air – Thunderclap Newman
Because there’s something in the air
We’ve got to get together sooner or later
Because the revolution’s here, and you know it’s right
And you know that it’s right.
Something in the Air Guitar Chords
Reach Out And Touch Somebody’s Hand – Diana Ross
Reach Out And Touch Somebody’s Hand is a song by Diana Ross from 1970. The tune is an encouragement for individuals to make minor differences in the world to build a better one collectively.
The power of individuals’ effect on the world is often underestimated. Songs like this remind us once again how important it is to make time in our busy lives to make others’ lives a little better by just being there for them.
The song is for intermediate-level players with many slash chords and chord variations. There are some uncommon chords that can enrich your chord repertoire.
Reach out and touch
Reach Out And Touch Somebody’s Hand – Diana Ross
Somebody’s hand
Make this world a better place
If you can
Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand Guitar Chords
Put A Little Love In Your Heart – Jackie DeShannon
Jacki DeShannon’s 1968 hit song, Put A Little Love In Your Heart, is a simple song with beautiful lyrics that invite people to love. It has an eternal message that would never lose its significance; love is the way.
For any change, either personal or social, love is the key, as the song suggests. The tune reflects perfectly the mindset of the flower generation of the 68.
With major chords, the song sounds energetic and uplifting, making it fun to play. There are 3 barre chords that can be challenging for beginners. Besides those, it is a pretty straightforward song to play.
You see, it’s getting late
Put A Little Love In Your Heart – Jackie DeShannon
Oh, please don’t hesitate
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place
For you and me
You just wait and see
Put a Little Love in Your Heart Guitar Chords
Meat Is Murder – The Smiths
Meat Is Murder is the song from the same-named album of The Smiths released in 1985. Morrissey, the singer of the band, has been a strict vegetarian since he was a teenager. He invites people to change their diet and put more thought into their meals since those meals are products of mass murder.
Desiring change for humans is brilliant, but what about the rest of the living that we share this earth? A change without them would be utterly meaningless. Thus, we need to change our cruelty against the most innocent creatures for our conformity and joy.
The song has many chords, and the main riff is played with triad chords. With slash chords and uncommon variations, it is suitable for experienced players.
It’s not “natural,” “normal,” or kind
Meat Is Murder – The Smiths
The flesh you so fancifully fry
The meat in your mouth
As you savor the flavor
Of Murder
Change – Carrie Underwood
This country song, Change by Carrie Underwood from 2009, underlines the importance of the small gestures that can start a change inside you and the world. It calls for standing strong against those who underestimate the power of the smallest things.
Be it helping homeless people or needy children, kindness and altruism can work wonders and bring change for those who need it. Moreover, it can initiate the change inside you and inspire others for a more significant impact.
With 5 elementary chords, the song is excellent for beginners to play. In addition, there is just one barre chord, Bm, that you can practice or choose an alternative easier variation.
Oh, the smallest thing can make all the difference
Change – Carrie Underwood
Love is alive, don’t listen to them when they say
You’re just a fool, just a fool to believe you can change the world.
This Is the New Year – A Great Big World
The 2014 pop song, This Is The New Year, by the American duo, A Great Big World, tells about the change that the new year brings. The tune is full of hope and promise.
New years are often associated with bringing assurances of change. Thus, the song encourages listeners to live for now and join together with their loved ones.
The song is played with a capo on the 4th fret. There are 9 chords played in the song, including 2 barre chords, making it suitable for players familiar with the barring technique.
Say everything you’ve always wanted
This Is the New Year – A Great Big World
Be not afraid of who you really are
‘Cause in the end we have each other
And that’s at least one thing worth living for.
This Is the New Year Guitar Chords
Glad To Be Gay – Tom Robinson
The last song on the list is Glad To Be Gay from the punk rock new wave British band Tom Robinson, released in 1978. The song is seen as a gay anthem of the gay movement of Great Britain.
The song criticizes the aggressive discrimination against gay people in Britain. The song is essential since it created awareness in many different aspects of discrimination, from police brutality to the gay portrayal in the media. Furthermore, it triggered a change in the mindset of British folk.
Although the song is straightforward to play and consists of all open chords, there are some challenging chord variations. It is a great song to experiment with different chords with uncommon finger positions.
So sit back and watch as they close all our clubs
Glad To Be Gay – Tom Robinson
Arrest us for meeting and raid all our pubs
Make sure your boyfriend’s at least twenty-one
So only your friends and your brothers get done
Sing if you’re glad to be gay
Sing if you’re happy that way, hey.
Conclusion
There are many types of change from personal to social in various aspects. All are the fundamental drives of life since change is always permanent. They are the vital forces that make life more exciting and worth experiencing. It is the way we grow, learn and affect others.
It is unavoidable that an aspect so crucial would not be reflected in another key aspect of life, music. Thus, there is a massive repertoire in modern music history about change in general. I tried to pick the most diverse songs about change from any angle that are fun to play and deserve to be in your repertoire. So, enjoy changing and playing these beautiful tunes.
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