“Night Changes” by One Direction is a beloved song for many reasons, and learning to play it on guitar is a rewarding experience. This guide provides you with the guitar chords to easily play along with this popular hit. Whether you’re a beginner guitarist or looking to expand your repertoire, “Night Changes” is a fantastic song to add to your list.
Simple Chord Progression for Night Changes
The song is played with a capo on the 1st fret, which effectively raises the pitch of each chord. However, for simplicity and ease of learning, especially for beginners, we will present the chords as if the capo is not there, and indicate the capo position at the beginning. This makes the chord shapes easier to grasp.
Here are the chords you’ll need to play “Night Changes”, relative to capo on the 1st fret:
- G
- Em
- Bm
- D
- C
- A
- F#m
- E
These chords are used throughout the song in a repeating pattern, making it relatively straightforward to learn. The verses and choruses primarily use G, Em, Bm, D, and C. The bridge introduces A, F#m, and E, adding a slight variation to the harmonic landscape.
Playing the Verses and Choruses
The main progression for the verses and choruses follows this sequence:
G Em Bm D
This four-chord pattern repeats through much of the song, creating a catchy and memorable melody. Listen to the song to get the rhythm and strumming pattern down. A simple strumming pattern to start with could be Down-Down-Up-Up-Down-Up.
During the chorus, the C chord is introduced, adding a lift and emotional depth:
C D G
This progression appears multiple times in the chorus, emphasizing the song’s reflective and slightly melancholic feel.
Bridge Chords
The bridge section offers a slight change, using chords that create a temporary shift in tonality:
F#m D E A
These chords add a bit of complexity and build towards the final chorus sections, maintaining listener interest and providing a dynamic musical journey.
Strumming and Capo Tips
For strumming, experiment with different patterns to find what sounds best to you and fits the song’s rhythm. Starting with a basic Down-Down-Up-Up-Down-Up pattern is a great way to begin. As you get more comfortable, you can explore more intricate rhythms.
Remember to place your capo on the 1st fret to match the original key of the song. If you prefer to play without a capo, you can still use these chord shapes, but the overall pitch of the song will be lower.
Conclusion: Enjoy Playing “Night Changes”
“Night Changes” is a fantastic song to learn on guitar. Its repetitive chord structure and emotional melody make it both accessible for beginners and enjoyable for more experienced players. With these guitar chords, you’re well on your way to playing along with One Direction’s hit. Keep practicing, listen to the song to refine your timing and strumming, and soon you’ll be playing “Night Changes” confidently. Enjoy making music!
