A Change Is Gonna Come

by Sam Cooke
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Looking to play this yourself? Try the standard piano arrangement of “A Change Is Gonna Come
Two-handed piano arrangement — color-coded notes, lead sheet, sheet music. Learn it yourself.

Other arrangements of A Change Is Gonna Come

Pick a learning view or switch to the backing-track version.

Also available as a standard piano arrangement
Lyrics

I was (Bb)born

by the riv er

in a lit tle tent.

Oh, (Cm)and just like the riv er I’ve been run ning

ev er since.

It’s been a (Bb)long,

a long (Cm)time com ing but I know

a change gon na come,

oh, (Bb)yes it will.

It’s been (Bb)too

hard liv ing

but I’m a fraid to die

’cause I don’t know what’s up there

be yond the sky.

It’s been a (Bb6)long,

a long (Cm)time com ing, but I know

a change gon na come,

oh, (Bb)yes it will.

I (Bb)go

the mov ie

and I go down

town.

Some bod y keep tell ing me, “Don’t

hang a round”.

(Bb6)long,

a long (Cm)time com ing, but I know

a change gon na come,

oh, (Bb)yes it will.

I (Bb)yes it will.

Then I go

to my broth er

and I say, “Broth er, help me please”.

But he winds up

knock in’ me

back down on my knees.

Oh,

there been (Bb)yes it will.

A Change Is Gonna Come — Piano Accompaniment Track

4 people have learned this song

Free piano accompaniment for "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke. Sing along or play your instrument over the backing piano. Toggle the vocal melody on/off, change key to fit your voice, adjust tempo. Key of Eb, 98 BPM.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (Eb) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range — the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.

Try other practice modes:

About “A Change Is Gonna Come

How do the bar-notation visuals help sing "A Change Is Gonna Come" with this backing?
Each chord change drops as a colored bar across the staff, scrolling in real time so you can see exactly when the harmony shifts. Helpful for hitting entrances and judging when to breathe — especially on phrases that don't begin on beat 1 of "A Change Is Gonna Come".
What key is the piano accompaniment for "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke in?
The backing track is in Eb at 98 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones — the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "A Change Is Gonna Come" with this accompaniment?
Yes — that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
Is this a karaoke version of "A Change Is Gonna Come"?
Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "A Change Is Gonna Come", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "A Change Is Gonna Come" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work — the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "A Change Is Gonna Come"?
Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "A Change Is Gonna Come"?
"A Change Is Gonna Come" was originally performed by Sam Cooke. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
How do I use "A Change Is Gonna Come" as a backing track?
Just press play — the piano accompaniment runs from start to end, no vocals. Sing, hum, or play your own instrument over it. Use the mic icon to add a vocal melody as a pitch reference, and the speed control if you want a slower practice tempo.
Can I change the key of "A Change Is Gonna Come" to fit my voice?
Yes — the original is in Eb, but the player has a live transpose control so you can shift up or down semitones until the melody sits in your vocal range. The piano accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.

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