Lean On Me

by Bill Withers
Loading song
Fetching song
1
Play in Kid Mode

Same song, other levels

Pick the arrangement that fits you
Sing this song instead — backing track for “Lean On Me
Backing track + lyrics — toggle the vocal, change the key, practice singing over piano.

Other arrangements of Lean On Me

Pick a learning view or switch to the backing-track version.

Lyrics

Some times in our lives

we all have pain,

we all have sor

row.

But, if we are wise,

we know that there’s

al ways to mor row.

Lean on me

when you’re not strong and I’ll be your friend,

I’ll help you car ry on;

for, it won’t be long ’til I’m gon na need some bod y to lean

on.

Call me,

call me,

call me,

call me.

Lean On Me — Falling Notes Piano Tutorial

63 people have learned this song

Watch "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers in falling notes style — like Synthesia. Color-coded notes fall onto the keyboard in real time. Practice left hand, right hand, or both. Key of C, 120 BPM.

Teacher’s notes

This arrangement sits entirely in the key of C with no sharps or flats, so your right hand stays on white keys throughout — making it a perfect piece to focus on smooth, confident chord transitions rather than hunting for notes.

Your left hand carries a walking bass line, which means you'll step between notes on every beat instead of holding whole notes; keep that motion steady and even, almost like a calm heartbeat at 120 BPM.

The trickiest part for most students is coordinating that constant left-hand movement with the right-hand melody, so start hands-separate and get the bass pattern feeling automatic before you combine them.

When you do put hands together, drop the tempo to around 80 BPM and loop the first four bars until the coordination clicks.

Watch the transitions where the bass line changes direction — that's where timing tends to slip.

A light touch on the sustain pedal at each chord change will give you that warm, soulful sound without muddying things up.

This is the piece that'll make walking bass feel natural under your fingers, and that skill transfers to dozens of songs down the road.

About “Lean On Me

Can I learn "Lean On Me" with falling notes like Synthesia?
Yes — Falling Notes mode shows colored note shapes dropping onto a virtual keyboard, the same visual style as Synthesia or piano-tile games. Each note's column matches the piano key you press. Works for "Lean On Me" with hands-separate practice in C at 120 BPM.
What key is "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers played in?
Lean On Me is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Lean On Me"?
The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Lean On Me" easy to play on piano?
This is an advanced arrangement. We recommend breaking it into sections and using the speed control to drill harder passages.
Can I download sheet music for "Lean On Me"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Lean On Me"?
"Lean On Me" was originally performed by Bill Withers. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Bill Withers can I play here?
Try "Lovely Day", "LEAN ON ME", "LEAN ON ME". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can I practice left and right hand separately for "Lean On Me"?
Yes! Our Top Down mode lets you isolate the left hand (bass clef), right hand (treble clef), or play both together. This makes it easy to master "Lean On Me" one hand at a time before combining them.
What is falling notes style for "Lean On Me"?
Falling notes (also known as Synthesia or piano waterfall) shows color-coded rectangles falling from the top of the screen onto a virtual keyboard. Each note's position matches the piano key you need to press. "Lean On Me" is in the key of C at 120 BPM.

More songs you might like