Chords + Lyrics | Be My Baby
Intro
| N.C | N.C | E | E |
Verse 1
| E | E | F#m | B7 |
The night we met I knew I, needed you so.
| E | E | F#m | B7 |
And if I had the chance I’d, never let you go.
Bridge 1
| G#7 | G#7 | C#7 | C#7 |
So won’t you say you love me, I’ll make you so proud of me.
| F#7 | F#7 | B7 | B7 |
We’ll make ’em turn their heads, every place we go.
Chorus 1
| E | E |
So won’t you please (be my, be my baby).
| C#m | C#m |
Be my little baby (my one and only baby).
| A | A |
Say you’ll be my darlin’ (be my, be my baby).
| B7 | B7 |
Be my baby now (my one and only baby). Wha-oh-oh-oh.
Verse 2
I’ll make you happy baby, just wait and see.
For every kiss you give me, I’ll give you three.
Bridge 2
Oh, since the day I saw you, I have been waiting for you.
You know I will adore you ’til eternity.
Chorus 2
So won’t you please (be my, be my baby).
Be my little baby (my one and only baby).
Say you’ll be my darlin’ (be my, be my baby).
Be my baby now (my one and only baby). Wha-oh-oh-oh.
Solo
| E | E | F#m | B7 |
| E | E | F#m | B7 |
Chorus 3
So come on and be (be my, be my baby).
Be my little baby (my one and only baby).
Say you’ll be my darlin’ (be my, be my baby).
Be my baby now (my one and only baby). Wha-oh-oh-oh.
Breakdown
| N.C | N.C |
Chorus 4
(Be my, be my baby) Be my little baby.
(My one and only baby) Ooh-oh-oooh.
(Be my, be my baby) Ooh-oh-oooh.
(My one and only baby) Wha-oh-oh-oh.
Chorus 5
(Be my, be my baby) Ooh-oh-oooh.
(My one and only baby) Ooh-oh-oooh.
(Be my, be my baby) Be my baby now.
(My one and only baby).
Be My Baby Backing Track | Chord Analysis
Above is a backing track I recorded with a live band in the studio.
It’s used throughout the course—first for demonstrating section-by-section ideas in looped formats, then for the full performance further down this page. By the end of this journey, you’ll be able to craft your own guitar part and play Be My Baby live with the band in the final lesson.
Chord Progressions – What’s Going On?
The verse chords are just this:
||: E (I) | E | F#m (II) | B7 (V) :||
In the key of E, this cycle repeats a I – II – V progression. While it echoes the familiar II – V – I found in jazz, starting on the I chord gives it a refreshing twist.
Bridge
The bridge introduces a harmonic shift with the IIIx chord (the mediant major), which builds tension towards a major VI (VIx), then continues up the cycle of fourths to a major II (IIx):
| G#7 (IIIx) | G#7 | C#7 (VIx) | C#7 |
| F#7 (IIx) | F#7 | B7 (V) | B7 |
To get TAB and step-by-step video lessons showing exactly how to play Be My Baby’s chords, check out the full lesson series here: Be My Baby – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Chorus
After this, the chorus returns to one of the most iconic progressions—the Stand by Me changes:
| E (I) | E | C#m (VI) | C#m |
| A (IV) | A | B7 (V) | B7 |
Aside from a short re–intro (just drums and a solo over the verse chords), this covers the entire harmonic structure of Be My Baby.
Here’s a chord chart I made for you, use it as you practise along with the baking track above.
Be My Baby Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
The chord chart provided strikes a balance between clarity and detail. While not 100% precise, it’s designed for quick reference—particularly helpful for remembering key sections like the bridge.
Overloading the chart with nuance would sacrifice readability, especially in a live setting. If you’d like to download it, here’s the PDF: Be My Baby chord chart PDF.
This was created using iReal Pro. You can grab the file here: Be My Baby iReal Pro. With the app, you can transpose the chart on the fly or reformat it into a fully linear structure.
Charts should support your performance—not distract from it. This version is built with that in mind.
In the course, we go deep into Be My Baby, using TAB and play-along loops to explore every detail.
Below is a preview of how we break things down—starting with a full performance of this classic tune!
Be My Baby TAB | Course Preview
To capture the essence of Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound in a live band context, I use open-position chords and sweeping rhythms for a rich, layered effect.
Here’s Verse Example 1 in TAB—one way to deliver that full sound.
All sections are relatively straightforward when practised with the looped play-alongs. The main challenge lies in transitioning smoothly between verse, bridge, chorus, and solo.
To truly master Be My Baby, focus on natural phrasing. Don’t rigidly repeat a fixed part—aim to improvise around the chord changes while staying in character. That’s what keeps the song engaging.
The full course includes multiple variations for each section. → Be My Baby – Guitar Lessons with TAB
Phil Spector’s first Wall Of Sound production
Be My Baby was The Ronettes’ breakthrough hit, released as a single in 1963. More significantly, it became Phil Spector’s first major success as a writer and producer, introducing his legendary Wall of Sound recording technique.
For most Motown and soul songs, small chord shapes and choppy rhythms work best—but Be My Baby is an exception. To recreate the depth and richness of Spector’s production, you’ll need big barre chord shapes and long, sweeping rhythms.
When it comes to effects, I used delay, tremolo, and reverb. There’s plenty of space in the arrangement, so take advantage of this by experimenting with your effect pedals.
Since there’s no distinct guitar part in the original, start by learning my approach, then adapt it to make it your own. For the solo, simply play the melody and embellish it with major pentatonic licks.
Be My Baby Chords: Continue Learning
Each section of Be My Baby is relatively easy, as long as you practice with the live band loops, you’ll learn them quickly.
The challenge lies within playing the verse, bridge, chorus, and solo without getting stuck, and making it all sound natural when you play with the band in step 8.
Start learning with the full lesson series: Be My Baby – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
