Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Stand By Me on piano
By Ben E. King
- F major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- 1961
- Easy
Learn Stand By Me in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – C – F – Dm – C – Dm – Dm7
Stand By Me sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 7 chords: F is F, A and C; C is C, E and G; Dm is D, F and A; Dm7 is D, F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FICVFIDmviCVDmviDm7vi7- FF · A · C
- CC · E · G
- DmD · F · A
- Dm7D · F · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Island pulse
Three, three, two: the island rhythm in so many pop hits. Musicians call it root bass · tresillo 3-3-2 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hide-and-seek chords
Hides on beat 1, pops up on 2, sneaks in before beat 4, then lands on it. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 BPM
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: Bb – C – F
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Stand By Me
What chords are in Stand By Me?
The loop is F – C – F – Dm – C – Dm – Dm7 (I – V – I – vi – V – vi – vi7) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is Stand By Me in?
F major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Stand By Me?
Island pulse: root bass · tresillo 3-3-2, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Stand By Me easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 7 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Stand By Me?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.