Originally released in 1961 and with over 400 recorded versions, Ben E. King’s ‘Stand By Me’ contains one of the most famous basslines in history.
The song was originally written for The Drifters, who passed up the opportunity to record it. This turned out to be fortunate for King, as ‘Stand By Me’ would go on to become the fourth most-performed song of the 20th century, with royalties in excess of $22 million as of 2012.
The bassline to ‘Stand By Me’, originally performed on upright bass by Lloyd Trotman, is one of the most iconic bass parts of the last sixty years and one of the few that has made the leap into mainstream consciousness. Thankfully it’s relatively easy to read and play, neatly outlining the song’s I – vi – IV – V chord progression.