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I’m a (D7)mean, the mean a wom an,
I don’t need no one ev ’ry thing no (D7)good,
no.
I’m a mean, (G7)once mean wom an, dy, I don’t need no one man, ’ry thing in sight.
no good.
I I just hon treats ’em like I wants to, hon ey, I nev er treats ’em, hon ey, like I (D)should.
Oh, Lord, I (D7)once the had of dad dy,
He said he’d give me ev ’ry thing in (D7)sight.
no.
I’m not I (G7)kind had a dad dy, said he’d give no me ev a bed of ease.
no good.
So, if said, just ey, I want the sun shine, hon ey, yeah, take the stars out me ey, of the (D)night.
Oh, Lord, I (D)please.
I guess I’m just like a tur tle,
that’s hid in’ un der neath its hard ened (D7)shell.
Whoa,
whoa, whoa, oh, (G7)yeah, like a tur tle,
hid in’ un der neath its hard ened (D7)shell.
But you (A7)know I’m ver y well pro tect ed.
I know this god damned life too (D)well.
(A7)Oh,
now call me mean, you can call me e vil, yeah, (G7)yeah, I’ve been called much worse things a (D7)round.
Call me (G7)mean or call me e vil,
I’ve been called much worse things a (D7)round.
Yeah, but (A7)I’m gon na take good care of Jan is, yeah,
hon ey, no one gon na dog me (D)down.
Turtle Blues — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners
24 people have learned this song
Learn "Turtle Blues" on piano with easy notes — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of D, 135 BPM.
Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.
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About “Turtle Blues”
- Can I play "Turtle Blues" without reading sheet music?
- Yes — Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "Turtle Blues" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
- What key is "Turtle Blues" by Janis Joplin played in?
- Turtle Blues is arranged in the key of D on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Turtle Blues"?
- The arrangement plays at 135 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Turtle Blues" 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 "Turtle Blues"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Turtle Blues"?
- "Turtle Blues" was originally performed by Janis Joplin. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Turtle Blues"?
- This arrangement uses 8 chords: A7, Bb7, C, D, D7, Eb7, G, G7.
- 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.
- Can a complete beginner play "Turtle Blues"?
- Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard — no music reading needed. "Turtle Blues" is simplified for beginners.
- Do I need to read music to play "Turtle Blues"?
- No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "Turtle Blues" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.