Other arrangements of Telling Stories
Pick a learning view.
There is (Em)fic tion in the space be tween
the (G)lines on your page of (D6)mem o ries.
Write it (Em)down but it does n’t mean
you’re (G)not just tell ing sto ries.
There is (Em)fic tion in the space be tween
you and re (D6)al i ty.
You will (Em)do and say an y thing
to make your (G)ev ’ry day life seem (D6)less mun dane.
There is (Em)fic tion in the space be tween
you and me.
There’s a sci ence (Em)fic tion in the space be tween
you and me,
a fab ri (Em)ca tion, a grand scheme
where (G)I am the scar y mon ster.
I eat the (Em)cit y.
As I leave the scene
in my (G)space ship, I am laugh (D6)ing.
In your re (Em)mem brance of your bad dream,
there’s (G)no one but you stand ing.
Leave the pit y
and the blame
for the ones who (G)do not speak.
You write the words to get re spect and com pas sion and for pos (Em)ter i ty.
You write the words and (Em)make be lieve there is (G)truth in the (D6)space be (Em)tween.
There is (Em)fic tion in the space be tween
you and (D6)ev ’ry bod y.
(Em)Give us all what we need.
Give us (G)one more sad sor (D6)did sto ry.
In the (Em)fic tion of the space be tween,
(G)some times a lie
is the best thing.
(G)Some times a lie
is the best thing.
Oh, the best thing,
is the best thing.
Telling Stories — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along
7 people have learned this song
Free karaoke for "Telling Stories" by Tracy Chapman: 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 E, 126 BPM.
Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.
Try other practice modes:
About “Telling Stories”
- What key is "Telling Stories" by Tracy Chapman played in?
- Telling Stories is arranged in the key of E on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Telling Stories"?
- The arrangement plays at 126 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Telling Stories" easy to play on piano?
- This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
- Can I download sheet music for "Telling Stories"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Telling Stories"?
- "Telling Stories" was originally performed by Tracy Chapman. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Telling Stories"?
- This arrangement uses 6 chords: C, D, D6, D7, Em, G.
- What other songs by Tracy Chapman can I play here?
- Try "ALL THAT YOU HAVE IS YOUR SOUL", "GIVE ME ONE REASON", "TALKIN' 'BOUT A REVOLUTION". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is there a karaoke version of "Telling Stories" with lyrics?
- Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Telling Stories" by Tracy Chapman. 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 "Telling Stories" to match my voice or capo?
- Yes. The original is in E, 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 "Telling Stories" 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.