Other arrangements of Tell Mama
Pick a learning view.
You thought you had to find a good girl,
one to love you and (C)give you the world.
Now you find that (C)you’ve been mis used.
Talk to me, I’ll (C)do what you choose.
I want you to
tell Ma ma
all a bout it;
tell Ma ma
what you need.
Tell Ma ma
what you want,
and (F7)I’ll make ev ’ry (Bb)thing all right.
That girl you had did n’t have no sense.
She was n’t worth all the (C)time that you spent.
She had oth er man (C)throw you out doors.
Now the same man is (C)wear in’ your clothes.
I want you to
She would em bar rass you (C)an y where.
She let ev ’ry bod y know (C)she did n’t care.
Give me a chance, I’ve been (C)beg gin’ you.
I just wan na take care of you.
I want you to
tell Ma ma
all a bout it;
tell Ma ma
what you need.
Tell Ma ma
what you want.
Tell Ma ma
what you want right now.
Tell me.
Tell your Ma ma.
Tell Ma ma
what you want right now.
Tell me.
Tell your Ma ma.
Tell Ma ma.
Tell Mama — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along
3 people have learned this song
Free karaoke for "Tell Mama" by Janis Joplin: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of F, 120 BPM.
Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.
Try other practice modes:
About “Tell Mama”
- What key is "Tell Mama" by Janis Joplin played in?
- Tell Mama is arranged in the key of F on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Tell Mama"?
- The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Tell Mama" easy to play on piano?
- Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
- Can I download sheet music for "Tell Mama"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Tell Mama"?
- "Tell Mama" was originally performed by Janis Joplin. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Tell Mama"?
- This arrangement uses 7 chords: Am7, B, Bb, C, Dm, F, F7.
- What other songs by Janis Joplin can I play here?
- Try "ME AND BOBBY McGEE", "LITTLE GIRL BLUE", "PIECE OF MY HEART". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is there a karaoke version of "Tell Mama" with lyrics?
- Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Tell Mama" by Janis Joplin. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
- Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
- It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
- Can I change the key of "Tell Mama" to match my voice or capo?
- Yes. The original is in F, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
- Can I slow "Tell Mama" down to learn the words and chords?
- Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.