For Once in My Life (Stevie Wonder) Guitar Lesson with Backing Tracks + TAB

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For Once In My Life | TAB

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It took me a lifetime to reach the point where I could fully understand, transcribe, and play the chords in the masterpiece that is For Once In My Life.

Once I finally got the chords right, it only took half a day to write down a part that develops over the course of the song.

If you can play the TAB below and understand the extensions, you’ll undoubtedly grow as a guitarist.

Intro

We start with something similar to the rhythm coming up, using just a D shape for a simple F chord. There is a small but critical difference on beat 3—pay close attention!

Interestingly, I realised the other day this must be where Sixpence None The Richer got the idea for their pop hit Kiss Me, which also changes in the first bar before settling into the progression.

Verse 1

The first verse uses muted strums—play this on repeat for a long time before moving on. Almost everything in the song is a variation on this concept.

Make sure you can see how beat 3’s rhythm is different!

Here’s what’s going on:

• F chord ascends from the 5th → #5 → 6. When we go up a semitone again, the bass changes to D, giving D7b9.
• Gm descends from root → maj7 → b7, then back up.
• C7 → F is varied with Caug → F.
• The rhythm is identical throughout.

Second half of verse 1:

Changes here:

• Rhythm changes: no muted strums, beat 1 held longer on every other chord.
• First bar’s chords are dragged out to two bars.
• Bbmaj7 functions as F6 with a bass change.
• Bb6 = IV, Am7 = III, Dm = VI.
• Final two bars require isolation practice: II → III → IV → V.

Verse 2

Very little repeats:

• Starts similarly but goes to F#dim7 instead of D7b9.
• Gm → Gmmaj7 replaced by Gm9 → C13.
• Following chords are rhythmically varied in the signature Latin feel.
• Last two bars: Fmaj7 → F6, then Cm7 → F7 (II–V in a new key!).

Second half of verse 2:

Changes:

• Starts similarly but goes to G7 (IIx) instead of Bb6 (IV).
• F → Dm7 replaces Am7, keeping the same note relationships; bass root shifts.
• Final bars: II-V (Gm → C11).
• Last four bars are tricky—a semitone up sets the stage for the new key of Gb for the solo.

Solo

Good news: rhythm is like verse 2, chords like verse 1 (almost). Differences:

• Db9 (not just dom7)
• Eb7 (no b9)

Here’s the second half of the solo:

First six bars identical (in Gb). Last two bars feature complex chords—memorisation is your best friend here.

Verse 3

• First four bars match verse 2.
• Minor → minmaj7 chords play like verse 1 but with new shapes.
• Rhythm continues consistently for the last chords.

Second half of verse 3:

• Chords match verse 2 (second half).
• Last four chords are looped.
• Chord shapes differ: using an E shape for the Gb chord, staying low until the end.

After many hours of practice, try playing this using just the backing tracks and chord chart—it’s a true test of mastery.

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For Once In My Life Backing Tracks + TAB | Related Pages

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For Once In My Life | Chords + Lyrics

You can learn to play For Once In My Life by Stevie Wonder using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.

| F Faug | F6 D7b9/F# | 
For once in my life, I have someone who needs me…

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Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics

• Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
• Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
• River Deep – Mountain High
• Sir Duke
• You Can’t Hurry Love

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