As Tears Go By Chords & Guitar Lesson

Ever been in deep emotional pain?

Well, here’s an epic Rolling Stones’ 12-string tune that might be just about that.

It wasn’t as popular at first as say tunes like “Satisfaction”, or “Paint It Black.”  

But it’s definitely become a crowd favorite over the years. So grab your axe and let’s dive into this “As Tears Go By” chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote As Tears Go By?

"As Tears Go By" was written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and the Rolling Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham. This collaboration was unusual in that it marked a rare songwriting contribution from Oldham – who was largely involved in the production side but also contributed lyrics.

“As Tears Go By” is an introspective tune possibly about heartbreak and the passing of time. The lyrics sing about deep sadness, and themes of loss. The song was written when the Rolling Stones were still in their early stages of stardom. Oldham thought of "As Tears Go By" as a more "pop-oriented" song, specifically written for the Rolling Stones' growing international appeal. The song's soft, orchestral feel, especially when compared to their usual gritty rock, represented the band's potential to expand beyond their roots.

The recording of "As Tears Go By" was done in London at Olympic Studios, and took place in November 1964, shortly after the Rolling Stones had returned from a successful tour. The session was produced by Oldham, with Richards playing the main guitar part. 

It was first released as a single in the UK in December 1964, and it became a hit, reaching #6 on the UK Singles Chart. It was also released in the United States in 1965, where it became a Top 20 hit, peaking at #15. "As Tears Go By" was one of the few Rolling Stones songs that didn't really fit their established sound at the time. It was more orchestral and lush, featuring strings and a more polished production style. Some fans of the band at the time were surprised by the ballad’s softer tone. 

The song’s arrangement is often compared to some of The Beatles’ ballads from the same era. Some even speculated that the Stones were trying to emulate the lush, orchestrated feel that The Beatles had achieved with strings on tunes like "Yesterday." 

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for As Tears Go By?

The tuning for "As Tears Go By" as recorded by The Rolling Stones is standard tuning. The primary guitar part is played on a 12-string guitar by Keith Richards. Standard tuning is spelled out as EADGBE. 

Here are the strings:

• E (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch)

Now that you know the “As Tears Go By” tuning, let’s next talk about the…

As Tears Go By Chords

If you want to play “As Tears Go By” on guitar, you’ll need to know 7 main chords, they are G, A, C, D, G/F#, Em, and Em/D. These can all be played as open position chords. Let’s take a look at a few ways the shapes can be played on the fretboard.

G can be played using all 6 strings like this:

A is played from the 5th string down. Here I use my index finger to make a bar like so:

C is played from the 5th string down like this:

For D, try to play from the 4th string down like so:

G/F# is played by shifting the root note on the above G chord down one fret like this:

Em is a beautiful chord and is played using all 6 strings like so:

Finally, Em/D is played from the 4th string down. However, I generally keep the 2nd fret on the 5th string down as well just in case that string is accidentally strummed or plucked like this:

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard for RHYTHM and LEAD guitar and want to discover the easiest and fastest way. Then get your hands on my free fretboard guide PDF right here now:  

Is As Tears Go By hard to play on guitar?

The main 12-string guitar part for “As Tears Go By” is deceptively difficult. It seems simple because there are only a handful of chords. However, to be able to articulate the picking (while on a 12-string) like Keith Richards does is no easy task. It requires control and accuracy to make it sound almost like fingerpicking – yet it’s done with a flatpick. This technique is called arpeggio picking.  

Arpeggio picking is a technique of playing the notes of a chord individually, one at a time, rather than strumming all the strings simultaneously. This creates a broken-chord effect and it’s commonly used in classical, rock, folk, and pop.

What key is As Tears Go By in?

“As Tears Go By” as recorded by The Rolling Stones is in the key of G major. The main scale being used in the song is the G major scale which is built using the notes: G - A - B - C - D - E - F#. 

Let’s take a look at how all the chords relate in the key of G major:

G Major (I)

Function: Tonic

The G major chord is the home chord in the key of G major, also known as the I chord. It establishes the key and provides a sense of stability and resolution.

A Major (ii)

Function: Supertonic

In a major key, the ii chord is typically a minor chord, but here the Stones use a major II chord. This often functions as a passing chord or a chord that leads to the dominant (D or D7). In this case, I would consider it a passing chord on the way up to the C major.

C Major (IV)

Function: Subdominant

The C major chord is the IV chord in the key of G major. This chord creates a nice movement away from the tonic (G major), and it often leads to the dominant (D major). It’s a common chord in many progressions, adding a sense of progression and energy.

D Major (V)

Function: Dominant

The D major chord is the V chord in G major, meaning it’s the dominant chord. It creates tension that resolves back to the tonic (G major). Sometimes the V chord is played as D7 to create even more tension and a stronger pull back to the tonic.

G/F# (I with a lowered bass)

Function: Tonic, with a passing bass

The G/F# chord is a G major chord with an F# in the bass. This is sometimes referred to as a G major over F#, and it functions as a sort of passing chord. It creates a stepwise motion down to the Em chord. This move is common to millions of songs. 

E Minor (vi)

Function: Submediant

The E minor chord is the vi chord in the key of G major. In major keys, the diatonic vi chord is a minor chord. It has a somewhat melancholic or introspective feel, and it is commonly used in many progressions, often acting as a relative minor to the tonic (G major). For example, you might see a progression like G - Em (I - vi), which is common in pop and folk music.

Finally, we have the…

E Minor / D (vi/V)

Function: Relative minor and dominant

The Em/D chord is a combination of the vi chord (E minor) and the V chord (D major) with a D bass note. It’s another chord that creates a stepwise bass motion. This is a great way to move smoothly from one part of the progression to another.

Conclusion

There ya have it! That's quick breakdown and some tips on understanding the guitar style behind “As Tears Go By”.

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs way faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide here right now: 

Jon MacLennan