A play-along video by Lauren Bateman teaching how to play 'Stand By Me' (Ben E. King) in the key of G. She uses the chord progression G–E minor–C–D with a capo on the 2nd fret, offers a very simple version (four down strums per chord or one strum per chord for absolute beginners) and a spiced-up syncopated version. The video includes two full play-throughs (simple then syncopated), an interlude, and pointers to the full lesson and printable chart on laurenbateman.com.
Questions this video answers
G, E minor, C, D.
Capo on the 2nd fret.
Four down strums per chord (or one strum per chord for beginners).
"down, down, up, up, down, up, down, down, up, up, down, up" (counted as 1, 2 and, and 4 and).
laurenbateman.com.
Chapters
Hey, guitar enthusiast Lauren Bateman here, in this play along lesson we're going to be doing Stand By Me by Benny King in the key of G.
So don't worry about the key thing. All that means is we're going to be using the chords G, E minor, C and D. So if you know my two finger chord versions, you can go right ahead and use those. So that means we're going to be using a capoeira on the second fret of our guitar for this play along. Now this is a play along lesson, it's not the actual lesson. If you need the actual lesson, I'll put a link up here and in the description below so you guys can go check that out. So what I do in these play on sections is the first time I play this song through beginning to end, very simple strumming pattern. And then the second time through I play with a little bit more of an intricate pattern. So let's start with the simple version first. So if you need the chords and lyrics to follow along to go to laurenbateman.com. okay, you can pull up the chart there and keep this video on the side and play along with me. So all we're going to do for this very simple one is either four down strums, four down strums per chord. If you're an absolute beginner, you can do one strum per chord play at your level, whatever that is. All right, Putting my glasses on so I can read the lyrics and see the chords over here. So let's get started. I will Count us in. 1. 1, 2, 3, 4.
G.
To E minor.
To c.
D back to g.
When.
The night.
Has come.
And the land is dark.
And the moon.
Is the only light we see.
No I won't.
Be afraid no, I won't be afraid.
Just as long.
As.
You stay Stand, stand by me.
So darling, darling, stand.
By me O stand.
By me oh stand.
Stand by me Stand by me.
If the.
We look upon.
Should tumble and fall and the mountain.
Should crumble into the sea.
I won't cry.
I won't cry no, I won't shed a tear.
Just as long.
As you stand Stand by me.
Now we got an interlude ready.
G.
E minor.
To C.
To D back to.
Then we just repeat that all over again.
G.
E minor.
C.
D.
G.
So darling, darling staying by me oh oh, stand by me oh stand.
By me.
And there you go. That is the easy way to play this song. So I'm going to spice it up a little bit on the second time through. I'M going to do a little bit more of a syncopated strumming pattern. I'm going to be doing down, down, up, up, down, up, down, down, up, up, down, up, which is 1, 2 and.
And 4, and 1, 2, and.
And 4 and. All right, now pick up the speed just a little bit on the second time through. Ready? Here we go. 1, 2, 3, 4. Intro.
To E minor.
Back to Jesus.
When the night.
Has come.
And the land is dark.
And the moon is the only light we see.
Now I won't be afraid no, I won't afraid Just as long as you stand Stand by me so darling D Stand by me oh, stand by me oh, stand.
Stand by me Stand by me.
If the.
We look upon.
She'D tumble and fall all the mountain.
Should crumble into the sea.
I won't cry, I won't cry no, I won't shed a tear Just as long as you stand, Stand by.
And here's that interlude again. Ready? Double G.
To E minor.
To C.
To D to double G.
And then we do it all again. Ready? Here it is.
G.
E minor.
To D to G.
Many darling stand by me oh, stand by me oh, stand.
Stand by me Stand by me.
So there you go. Play along with this video as many times as you need to. And if you like these play alongs, make sure to give me a thumbs up so that I know to do more of them. YouTube's gonna pop up a couple more videos over there. Go check those out. And I hope to see you guys in another lesson video very soon.
