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 — Classic Piano Sheet Music
2 people have learned this song
Read "Telling Stories" by Tracy Chapman in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of E. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 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”
- Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Telling Stories"?
- Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature E. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
- 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 this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
- Yes — "Telling Stories" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature E, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
- What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
- Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
- Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
- Yes — slow the tempo from 126 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
- Why can I click a note in the score?
- Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
- Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
- Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.
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