Don’t Be Afraid
VIDEO
This week, we’re diving into a timeless classic: “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King. With its soulful groove and iconic bass line, this song is not just fun to play but also packed with valuable learning opportunities. Originally inspired by a gospel hymn, “Stand By Me” has been covered over 400 times and still resonates with audiences today.
Throughout the week, we’ll break down different elements of the song. We’ll start with its foundational bass riff and work our way through soloing techniques, a versatile rhythm pattern, and one of the most common chord progressions in popular music. Mastering this progression will help you recognize and play similar patterns in countless other songs.
Today, we’re focusing on the Bounce Strum, a rhythm pattern that gives the song its distinctive feel. With a mix of downstrokes, mutes, and upstrokes, this pattern will add a lot of groove to your playing. Take your time to get comfortable with it, and try playing along with the track.
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Thanks for the longer demonstration. I see to hold my right hnd close to the strings and minimize movement, and pulsing the fretting hand was good also.
This is so good a lesson, Tomas, I am so grateful you let us learn it!!! I am trembling of joy because this song and music touches the deepest parts of a sensitive soul.
What a enormous artist is Ben King! Thanks to his talent we enjoy more than 60 years later the beauty of soul. Some music remains just forever. Stand by me is a great example of that reality.
And the strum you use on the gitar is great, full of life and rythm. It replaces very well the fantastic “contrabas” in the song that Ben King sings.
As I went through it I was thinking that the second upstrum made it easier as a place keeper. At first there was an urge to also do an upstrum on beat 4 tho.