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'Stand By Me' Harmonica Lesson & Free Harp Tabs

Writer's picture: Liam WardLiam Ward

Updated: Apr 1, 2024

In today's harmonica lesson, I'll teach you to play 'Stand By Me' by Ben E. King on a diatonic harmonica in the key of A.



Here are the tabs to Stand By Me by Ben E. King:


Intro (low version)

-2 -3 4 4 -2 -3 4 4

4 -3 -3// -3// -2 -3// -3//

-3// -2 -2// -2// -3// -2 -2

-2 -3 4 4 -2 -3 4 4


Intro (high version)

6 -7 7 7 6 -7 7 7

7 -7 -6 -6 6 -6 -6

-6 6 -5 -5 -6 6 6

6 -7 7 7 6 -7 7 7


Melody (low version)

2 3 -3// 2 3 When the night has come 1 -1 2 -1 1 And the land is dark 1 -1 2 1 2 -1 -1 -1 -1 1 And the moon is the only light we'll see 2 3 -3// 2 3 -3// 2 -1 -1 1 -1 -1 1

Oh I won't be afraid, no I wo-on't be afraid 1 -1 2 -1 1 1 2 -1 2 -1 1 Just as lo-o-ong as you stand, stand by me 3 -3// 3 4 -3 -3// 3 -3// 3 -3// 2 -1 1 So darling, darling, sta-a-and by me, stand by me 2 1 2 -1 1 2 -1 1

Oh stand, stand by me, stand by me


Melody (high version)

8 9 -10 8 9

When the night has come 7 -8 8 -8 7

And the land is dark 7 -8 8 7 8 -8 -8 -8 -8 7

And the moon is the only light we'll see 8 9 -10 8 9 -10 8 -8 -8 7 -8 -8 7 Oh I won't be afraid, no I wo-on't be afraid 7 -8 8 -8 7 7 8 -8 8 -8 7 Just as lo-o-ong as you stand, stand by me 9 -10 9 10 10/ -10 9 -10 9 -10 8 -8 7 So darling, darling, sta-a-and by me, stand by me 8 7 8 -8 7 8 -8 7 Oh stand, stand by me, stand by me


Thanks for taking this lesson. I hope you enjoyed it!


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