Bill Withers - Lean On Me Chords

ChordsC, F, Em, G

Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to A,D keys to play this song with easier chords.

CSometimesinourFlives,weallhaveCpain

WeallhaveEmsorrow

CButifweareFwiseweknowthatCthere’salways GtomorrowC

CLeanonme,whenyou’renotFstrong,andI’llbeyourCfriend

I’llhelpyouEmcarryGon

CForitwon’tbeFlong,‘tillI’mgonnaCneed

SomebodytoGleanonC

CPleaseswallowyourFpride

IfIhaveCfaithyouneedtoEmborrow

CFornoonecanFfillthoseofyourCneeds

Thatyouwon’tGletCshow

JustCcallonmeFbrotherwhenyouneedahand

WeallneedsomebodytoGleanCon

IjustmighthaveaFproblemthatyou’llunderstand

WeallneedsomebodytoGleanCon

CLeanonme,whenyou’renotFstrong,andI’llbeyourCfriend

I’llhelpyouEmcarryGon

CForitwon’tbeFlong,‘tillI’mgonnaCneed

SomebodytoGleanonC

JustCcallonmeFbrotherwhenyouneedahand

WeallneedsomebodytoGleanCon

IjustmighthaveaFproblemthatyou’llunderstand

WeallneedsomebodytoGleanCon

IfCthereisaFloadyouhavetoCbearthatyoucan’tEmcarry

CI’mrightuptheFroadI’llshareyourCloadifyoujustGcallCme

GCallCmeGcallCmeGcallCme

ArtistBill Withers

AlbumStill Bill

GenresSoul

Year1972

KeyC

DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Lean On Me on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Bill Withers - Lean On Me on guitar requires 4 chords and 4 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

Lean On Me uses these transitions most often: G → C (17), C → F (14), and F → C (14). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with C - F chord transition.

1. C → F chord transition

To move from C to F:

Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 14 times.

2. C → Em chord transition

To move from C to Em:

While playing C, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

3. Em → G chord transition

Switching from Em to G:

Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
Place index finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

4. G → C chord transition

Switching from G to C:

Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 17 times.

Lean On Me chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Lean On Me.

Lean On Me includes 67 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
Lean On Me contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
These transition patterns show how Lean On Me connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
- C → G: 35%
- C → F: 16%
After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%