Change The World Guitar Lesson (Eric Clapton)

👉JAM THE BLUES ANYWHERE ON THE NECK! Discover the 5 easiest and fastest ways to play the blues scale with this FREE PDF GUIDE→ www.jonmaclennan.com/bluesscales
If you want to become great at playing popular music on guitar from the past 120 years, you’ve got to be familiar with the blues.
Now oftentimes players don’t realize a song they love is based on the blues.
They may even know how to play it but still do not realize they are playing the blues.
Today is a great example of this.
In this “Change the World” guitar lesson you’ll see how the blues can be brought straight into popular music.
So grab your guitar, tune-up, and let’s get started!
Who wrote Change the World?
"Change the World" is a song co-written by Tommy Sims, Gordon Kennedy, and Wayne Kirkpatrick. It was recorded by Eric Clapton for the soundtrack of the 1996 film "Phenomenon."
The song was produced by Babyface and the recording took place at Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood, California. It features Clapton on vocals and guitar, along with a notable lineup of musicians, including Nathan East on bass, Steve Gadd on drums, and Dean Parks on acoustic guitar.
The song achieved significant success and received several awards:
Grammy Awards (1997): "Change the World" won three Grammy Awards in 1997-Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. This recognition solidified its place as one of Clapton's most commercially successful songs.
Chart Performance: The song performed exceptionally well on music charts. It reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and also charted successfully in various other countries.
Popularity: "Change the World" became one of Eric Clapton's signature songs and is often associated with his later career. Its blend of pop, rock, and R&B elements contributed to its broad appeal.
The song's romantic lyrics and Clapton's soulful delivery, combined with the well-crafted blues riffs, played a significant role in its widespread acclaim and lasting popularity.
Change the World guitar chords:
The first half of this song is where you’ll really see the bluesy part. “Change the World” is in the key of E major.
Now, if we thought about a blues in the key of E we would have essentially 3 chords E7, A7, and B7.
These three chords would be our I, IV, and V chords in the key of E.
But instead of playing those chords, this song uses a classic blues riff that has been around for decades.
It plays a figure built off the I chord like this...
👉Follow along with the FULL lesson here: www.jonmaclennan.com/blog/cha...

[@jonmaclennan]

👉JAM THE BLUES ANYWHERE ON THE NECK! Discover the 5 easiest and fastest ways to play the blues scale with this FREE PDF GUIDE→ www.jonmaclennan.com/bluesscales

[@jerveman]

Love this song and love the articulate and well-thought-out and well-timed lesson. You get A Big thank you!!!

[@hawleybrowder4083]

I woke to the alert for this lesson. You know I’m working on it after church this morning! Thanks for the lesson.

[@aminechirif1944]

Bery cool, thanks

[@kevinobrien590]

Jon you make it look so easy. Thank you for this lesson.

[@jeffjohnson7381]

Would love to see a lesson on the solo part for change the world👍🎸

[@roxp10]

Rodrigo from Brasil txs Perfect lesson

[@zaneeltoro6412]

Talk Talk Talk, jesus! Just show it

[@em-rg3xf]

This appeared on my suggestions. Im so glad it did. Awesome video. I subscribing because this was so clear and sound great. Thank you

[@troytempest290]

Great lesson. Thanks John.

[@harveyhensley875]

Love it! Many great techniques to practice here. Happy New Year by the way, I am sure many of us are thankful for all the great lessons, looking forward to more to come.

[@guitargrandpa282]

Great lesson as usual Jon. Happy New Year.

[@rjjen1696]

thanks for all your hard work and great song choices - happy New Year

[@dianeM8229]

Thank you, Jon - you're awesome! Happy New Year to you and yours!

[@drewdietz2115]

Wonderful lesson my friend, keep em coming.

[@daslektarn]

Compliments! Your lessons are very good, clear and balanced with enough high level of technique!

[@teejdesign]

nice video... happy new year everyone.

[@bradflint6322]

Excellent lesson, lots of techniques to work on...Happy New Year everyone...and Jon, please do a follow up on the solo...Thanks?

[@geoffreykent3051]

Beauty, Jon, thank you.

[@maxechipare2333]

I love it. Thanks for the lesson

[@carldyke5725]

Great lesson. Good introduction to some nice chords. I found your music in iTunes. 👍🏼

[@dennisalexander9091]

Thank you very much Jon!! 🙏🏻😎🤙🏻

[@jimsteele9559]

Great!

[@robertoalvarez2777]

Got 6-7 months to learn for 34th wedding anniversary…scary

[@sideman7117]

Great lesson! (1) Bring on the solo! (2) Howzabout a lesson on “Got you on my mind”? Clapton performed it in the Unplugged concert video.

[@brownre2]

Great lesson Jon! I was wondering if you have a class going over the free Fretboard guide? If so, what is the title please! Thanks for all you do for US!

[@ritacarvalho4476]

Music is beutifull❤❤❤

[@jourdainfisher3642]

Couldn’t click fast enough. Please do the solo next!

[@garyrochussen3430]

Calling those intervals 6ths is misleading. It's the 5th and 3rd of the implied chord. For example, in the I chord (E7) the B is the 5th of the chord, while the G# is the 3rd. The movement is then to the ii chord (F#m) you are playing the 5th and minor 3rd of the F#m chord, etc. Same goes for the chord run off the IV chord {A7)

[@brunomoria383]

In the intro, the third chord is a G