Stand By Me chords by Otis Redding

Chords with lyrics

Difficulty: Intermediate

Stand By Me - Otis Redding (Originally Ben E. King)

Submitted by Ilse

Here's a tabulature with the bass tones written out as well so you can do it all on
I was inspired by Otis Reddings' version of the song. I know
it's frowned upon to have a version that's not ear-transcribed but I thought I'd
this version. Since there are like 100,000 different versions
of this song out there it's not weird for me to have transcribed this version to my
If you want to use this tab for playing along you could tune the guitar down 3 steps (to C#C#).

Otis version uses the Chords: A augmentedA - F# minorF#m - D MajorD - E MajorE - A augmentedA
But I think it's more comfortable to sing and play it when transcribed to:
C majorC - A minorAm - FF - G+G - C majorC

So here it is then.
Where I wrote the X's I usually just tap the strings with my right hand to resemble the
in Otis' version. It's not required but I find it adds some character to the song. =)

  C majorC          A minorAm        FF     G+G     C majorC
e|---X-0-------X-0-------X-0-----X-0-------X-1-------X-3-------X-0-------X-0-|
b|---X-1-------X-1-------X-1-----X-1-------X-1-------X-3-------X-1-------X-1-|
g|---X-0-------X-0-------X-2-----X-2-------X-2-------X-0-------X-0-------X-0-|
d|---X-2-------X-2-------X-2-----X-2-------X-3-------X-0-------X-2-------X-2-|
a|-3-X-3---2-3-X-3-3-2-0-X-0---0-X-0-0-----X-3---0---X-2---2-3-X-3---2-3-X-3-|
E MajorE|---X---3-----X---------X---3---X-----3-1-X-1-1---3-X-3-3-----X---3-----X---|

It's the same chords for the chorus as for the verse. Here's the lyrics with the chords
it may or may not be of help to you.

     C majorC        A minorAm
When the night has come

And the land is dark
     FF      G+G        C majorC
And the moon is the only light we'll see
   C majorC           A minorAm
No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid
     FF      G+G     C majorC
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

C majorC                       A minorAm
And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh now now stand by me
    FF   G+G       C majorC
Oh now stand,  stand by me,  stand by me.

    C majorC           A minorAm
If the sky that we look upon

Should tumble and fall
     FF        G+G       C majorC
And the mountains should crumble to the sea
     C majorC           A minorAm
I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear
     FF      G+G     C majorC
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

C majorC                       A minorAm
And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh now now stand by me
    FF   G+G       C majorC
Oh now stand,  stand by me,  stand by me.


C majorC                               A minorAm
Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me, oh now now stand by me
    FF   G+G       C majorC
Oh now stand,  stand by me,  stand by me.

C majorC                       A minorAm
And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh now now stand by me
    FF   G+G       C majorC
Oh now stand,  stand by me,  stand by me.


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Hope you like it. =) any comments, feel free to leave them on the comments page or send
email.