Piano chords · Old-time stride
Telling Stories: piano accompaniment sheet music
Written by Tracy Chapman
- E minor
- 4/4
- 126 BPM
- i–bVI–bIII–bVII loop
- 2000
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Telling Stories written out as piano music: the i – bVI – bIII – bVII loop in E minor for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays stride jumps (stride), and the right hand sings the tune.
Telling Stories chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in E minor. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Em | i | E G B |
| 2 | C | VI | C E G |
| 3 | G | III | G B D |
| 4 | D | VII | D F# A |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: stride jumps (stride) in the left hand, with the right hand free for the melody, over the Em – C – G – D chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
Play next
More by Tracy Chapman
Questions about Telling Stories
Does the sheet music for Telling Stories have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in Telling Stories?
The loop is Em – C – G – D (i – bVI – bIII – bVII) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.
What key is Telling Stories in?
E minor, at about 126 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Telling Stories?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Telling Stories easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.