Tell Mama

by Janis Joplin
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Lyrics

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 — Falling Notes Piano Tutorial

Watch "Tell Mama" by Janis Joplin 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 Bb, 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:

BeginnerLead SheetBar SheetSimple Sheet

About “Tell Mama”

What key is "Tell Mama" by Janis Joplin played in?
Tell Mama is arranged in the key of Bb 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.

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