Bill Withers - Lean on Me
Hello! Below you'll find my "Lean on Me" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This song by Bill Withers is a folk classic and only uses 4 chords! It was originally played on guitar, but translates well to piano.
Enjoy!
Lean on Me Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for Lean on Me:
Lean on Me Chords & Lyrics
[Intro]
| C | C Dm Em F | (F) | F Em Dm C |
| (C) | C Dm Em Em/G | (Em/G) - - G9 | (G9) F |
| C | C Dm Em F | (F) | F Em Dm C |
| (C) | C Dm Em Em/G | (Em/G) - - G9 | (G9) F |
| C | C Dm Edim F | (F) | F Em Dm C |
| (C) | C Dm C G7 | (G7) - - C | (C) |
[Verse 1]
C C Dm Edim F F Em Dm C
Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain
C/E Dm/F Em/G Em Dm6 F
We all have sor-row
C C Dm Edim F F Em Dm C
But, if we are wise, we know that there's
C/E Dm/F C/G G7 C
Al - ways to - mor - row
C C Dm Edim F F Em Dm C
Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain
C/E Dm/F Em/G Em Dm6 F
We all have sor-row
C C Dm Edim F F Em Dm C
But, if we are wise, we know that there's
C/E Dm/F C/G G7 C
Al - ways to - mor - row
[Chorus 1]
C C Dm Edim F
Lean on me, when you're not strong
C C Dm Edim F
Lean on me, when you're not strong
F Em Dm C
And I'll be your friend
C/E Dm/F Em/G Em Dm6 F
I'll help you carry on
C C Dm Edim F F Em Dm C
For it won't be long, 'till I'm gon - na need
C/E Dm/F C/G G7 C
Somebo - dy to lean on
C/E Dm/F Em/G Em Dm6 F
I'll help you carry on
C C Dm Edim F F Em Dm C
For it won't be long, 'till I'm gon - na need
C/E Dm/F C/G G7 C
Somebo - dy to lean on
[Verse 2]
C C Dm Edim F F Em Dm C
Please, swal-low your pride, If I have things
C/E Dm/F Em/G Em Dm6 F
You need to bor-row
C C Dm Edim F F Em Dm C
For, no one can fill, those of your needs
C/E Dm/F C/G G7 C
That you won't let show
C C Dm Edim F F Em Dm C
Please, swal-low your pride, If I have things
C/E Dm/F Em/G Em Dm6 F
You need to bor-row
C C Dm Edim F F Em Dm C
For, no one can fill, those of your needs
C/E Dm/F C/G G7 C
That you won't let show
[Bridge 1] (C)
So just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody, to lean on
I just might have a problem, that you'll understand
G7 C
We all need somebody, to lean on
So just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody, to lean on
I just might have a problem, that you'll understand
G7 C
We all need somebody, to lean on
[Chorus 2]
C C Dm Edim F
Lean on me, when you're not strong
C C Dm Edim F
Lean on me, when you're not strong
F Em Dm C
And I'll be your friend
C/E Dm/F Em/G Em Dm6 F
I'll help you carry on
C C Dm Edim F F Em Dm C
For it won't be long, 'till I'm gon - na need
C/E Dm/F C/G G7 C
Somebo - dy to lean on
C/E Dm/F Em/G Em Dm6 F
I'll help you carry on
C C Dm Edim F F Em Dm C
For it won't be long, 'till I'm gon - na need
C/E Dm/F C/G G7 C
Somebo - dy to lean on
[Bridge 2] (C)
You just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody, to lean on
You just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody, to lean on
I just might have a problem, that you'll understand
G7 C
We all need somebody, to lean on
G7 C
We all need somebody, to lean on
[Verse 3]
C C Dm Edim F F Em Dm C
If, there is a load, you have to bear
C/E Dm/F Em/G Em Dm6 F
That you can't car-ry
C C Dm Edim F F Em Dm C
I'm right up the road, I'll share your load
C/E Dm/F C/G G7 C
If you just call me
C C Dm Edim F F Em Dm C
If, there is a load, you have to bear
C/E Dm/F Em/G Em Dm6 F
That you can't car-ry
C C Dm Edim F F Em Dm C
I'm right up the road, I'll share your load
C/E Dm/F C/G G7 C
If you just call me
[Outro] X14
Dm/C C
Call me ("If you need a friend" etc.)
Dm/C C
Call me ("If you need a friend" etc.)
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
Lean on Me Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "Lean on Me" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "Lean on Me" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
