Intro

The song begins with the G chord strummed five times. This is a great opportunity to get comfortable with the G chord and to practice a simple strumming pattern. A common pattern for this song is down-down-up-up-down-up.

Chord Transitions

The chords used in this song are G, Em, C, and D. The transitions between these chords are relatively simple, making this a great song for beginners.

For the transition from G to Em, simply move your index and middle fingers down one string each. For the transition from Em to C, move your middle and ring fingers up one string each, and place your index finger on the first fret of the second string.

To transition from C to D, lift your fingers off the fretboard and form the D shape: index finger on the second fret of the third string, middle finger on the second fret of the first string, and ring finger on the third fret of the second string.

Verse and Chorus

The verse and chorus of this song follow the same chord progression: G, Em, C, D, G. Keep the strumming pattern consistent during these sections.

The lyrics "stand by me" coincide with the chord changes to emphasize the song's title and theme. Practice playing the chords in time with these lyrics to capture the feel of the song.

Instrumental and Outro

The instrumental section follows the same chord progression as the verse and chorus. This is a great opportunity to practice the chord transitions without worrying about singing.

The outro repeats the chorus progression, ending on the G chord. Make sure to strum this final chord with emphasis to signal the conclusion of the song.

Overall, Stand By Me is an excellent song for beginners to practice chord transitions and strumming patterns.