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Sam Smith - Stay With Me - Guitar Cover

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Speed
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Tools

BPM
Key F major
Sam Smith - Stay With Me guitar cover video
Kfir Ochaion
Kfir Ochaion Top Contributor
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
In The Lonely Hour album cover
In The Lonely Hour
2014 2:53
Listen on Spotify
Sam Smith Pop Rock 2014 F major
Capo Advisor 0 F major · Original key

About Stay With Me

Few Pop Rock ballads from 2014 crossed over to acoustic guitar playlists as naturally as this one did. "Stay With Me" sits in F major at a steady 100 BPM in standard tuning, which makes it very approachable for intermediate players. The gospel-inspired feel is the key thing to capture: the chord changes need weight and space rather than busy strumming, so focus on letting each chord ring out and controlling your dynamics. The verse carries a quiet, almost bare quality, while the chorus swells considerably, and nailing that contrast is where most players struggle. If the timing of those transitions feels uneven, use the Practice Toolbar to loop the verse-to-chorus shift slowed down until the dynamic control becomes second nature. Sam Smith co-wrote the track, and the melodic phrasing is strong enough that a fingerstyle arrangement works beautifully as an alternative to strummed chords.

  • The song sits in F major in standard E tuning at 100 BPM, making it a manageable tempo for players working on chord transitions and dynamic control.
  • Capturing the gospel-inspired swell from verse to chorus requires deliberate attention to strumming intensity rather than any complex technical technique.
  • A fingerstyle arrangement is a rewarding alternative to strumming, as the strong melodic line translates well to a single-guitar setting.

How to Play Stay With Me

Tuning: E Standard · Key: F major · Tempo: 100 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 100 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Sam Smith's guitarists use the Strat's warm neck pickup for delicate arpeggiated ballad patterns, rolling back the tone knob for a rounder, jazzier character that complements his intimate vocal delivery without cluttering the mix.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

The Telecaster's bright, articulate single-coil tone cuts cleanly through dense vocal arrangements on Sam Smith tracks, maintaining note definition and picking dynamics without competing for space in the mix.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

Set completely clean with spacious reverb, the Twin Reverb provides the expansive, warm foundation that defines Sam Smith's signature sound on ballads like 'Stay With Me,' delivering maximum headroom and clarity.

Fender Deluxe Reverb
Amp

Fender Deluxe Reverb

The Deluxe Reverb's vintage clean headroom and built-in reverb create the intimate, spacious backdrop essential to Sam Smith's stripped-back arrangements, offering slightly less power than the Twin but the same tonal clarity.

Vox AC30
Amp

Vox AC30

On its clean channel, the AC30 adds a slightly warmer, more colored character to Sam Smith's guitar tone compared to Fender amps, perfect for ballads requiring additional harmonic richness and vintage character.

Boss CE-2 Chorus
Pedal

Boss CE-2 Chorus

This subtle chorus adds width and shimmer to arpeggiated parts in Sam Smith's arrangements, enhancing the spacious, lush quality of his sound while maintaining the clarity and cleanliness his vocal-forward productions demand.

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