How to Practice Stand By Me
Ben E. King's 'Stand By Me' uses the most famous chord progression in popular music: I-vi-IV-V (in this case A-F#m-D-E). Every doo-wop song, every '50s ballad, every 'Heart and Soul' moment uses this progression. Learning Stand By Me means learning the foundation that hundreds of other songs are built on.
Song Details
- Key
- A
- Tempo
- 120 BPM
- Time
- 4/4
- Style
- boom-chuck
Structure
What to Focus On
Steady, restrained strumming or fingerpicking. Smooth transitions through the I-vi-IV-V progression. Singing in tune over the held chord changes.
Practice Tips
- 1
The bass line is the song. If you have a bassist, the bass line walks: A-A-F#-F#-D-E-A. If you're playing solo, emulate that bass walk in your guitar playing.
- 2
The strumming is restrained — quarter notes, almost no syncopation. Resist the urge to add rhythmic complexity; the song needs space.
- 3
If singing, practice holding pitch through the slow chord changes. The melody is simple but the held notes will expose any pitch wobble.
Why This Song
Learn the I-vi-IV-V progression here and you've learned the foundation of '50s pop, doo-wop, and modern pop ballads.
Practice Stand By Me Daily
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