Give Me One Reason - Tracy Chapman
00:00 / 00:00
Tabs and lyrics
Tunning: Standard (E A D G B e)
Notes:
~~~~~
Hi. This is my TAB of Tracy Chapman's 'Give Me One Reason'. This is a
great, yet very simple blues song. A previous posting showed the song in a
straight 12 bar blues progresson in E, and I posted a version exactly like
this one in G, however, the song is played in F#. A couple of people tipped
me on the fact that it's supposed to be in F#, so thanks! I have tabbed the
chords in plain majors, however, you can make each a 7th to add a bit of a
more bluesy sound.

The main riff (Fig. 1) is played throughout the entire song, verse,
chorus, solo, everything. The high strikes of the chords should be played
'up strokes' and the muted parts of the chords should be played with
'down strokes'. This is another part of the tab which I messed up a little
because I reversed the symbols on the Figure. Check the key again and match
it to Fig. 1. Speaking of the solo, I have not posted it, nor have I
posted the little fills between the different lines of the verse. I figured
that it is more fun to play your own fills, and add your own solo.
Improvisation is a big part of my playing, so I will only post what is in
the actual song.


* Standard Tuning
* Slow Blues


[Intro]

Fig. 1
F# B C# F#
e|-----------||-----2-----2--x--|--------2-------4--x--|--------2-----2--x--\-|
B|-----------||-----2-----2--x--|--------4-------6--x--|--------2-----2--x----|
G|-----------||-----3-----3--x--|--------4-------6--x--|--------3-----3--x----|
D|-----------||-----4-----4--x--|----------------------|--------4-----4--x----|
A|-----------||-----------------|--0--2-----/-4--------|----------------------|
E|--0--0--0--||--2-----2--------|----------------------|--0--2-----2----------|
^ ^ v ^ ^ v ^ ^ v

F# B C#
e|--------2-----2--x--|--------2-----2--x--|--------2-------4--x--\-|
B|--------2-----2--x--|--------4-----4--x--|--------4-------6--x----|
G|--------3-----3--x--|--------4-----4--x--|--------4-------6--x----|
D|--------4-----4--x--|--------------------|------------------------|
A|--------------------|--0--2-----2--------|--0--2-----/-4----------|
E|--0--2-----2--------|--------------------|------------------------|
^ ^ v ^ ^ v ^ ^ v

F# C#
e|--------2-----2--x--|--------2-----2--x--|--------4-----4--x--\-|
B|--------2-----2--x--|--------2-----2--x--|--------6-----6--x----|
G|--------3-----3--x--|--------3-----3--x--|--------6-----6--x----|
D|--------4-----4--x--|--------4-----4--x--|----------------------|
A|--------------------|--------------------|--0--4-----4----------|
E|--0--2-----2--------|--0--2-----2--------|----------------------|
^ ^ v ^ ^ v ^ ^ v

End Fig. 1
B F#
e|--------2-----2--x--|--------2-----2--x--|--------2-----2--x--|\-|
B|--------4-----4--x--|--------3-----3--x--|--------3-----3--x-----|
G|--------4-----4--x--|--------4-----4--x--|--------4-----4--x-----|
D|--------------------|--------4-----4--x--|--------4-----4--x-----|
A|--0--2-----2--------|--------------------|-----------------------|
E|--------------------|--0--2-----2--------|--0--2-----2-----------|
^ ^ v ^ ^ v ^ ^ v

[Chorus] (w/Fig. 1)


F# B C# F#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn my back a - round...
B C# F#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn my back a - round...
C#
Said I don't want to leave you lonely,
B F#
you've got to make me change my mind...



Aditional Lyrics and Song Construction:


[Verse 1]

Baby I got your number, and I know that you've got mine
You know that I called you, I called too many times
You can call me baby, you can call me anytime, you got to call me


[Chorus]

F# B C# F#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn my back a - round...
B C# F#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn my back a - round...
C#
Said I don't want to leave you lonely,
B F#
you've got to make me change my mind...


[Verse 2]

I don't want no-one to squeeze me, they might take away my life
I don't want no-one to squeeze me, they might take away my life
I just want someone to hold me and rock me through the night


[Solo]


[Verse 3]

This youthful heart can love you, yes and give you what you need
This youthful heart can love you, and give you what you need
But I'm too old to go chasing you around, wasting my precious energy


[Chorus]

F# B C# F#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn my back a - round...
B C# F#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn my back a - round...
C#
Said I don't want to leave you lonely,
B F#
you've got to make me change my mind...


[Outro Chorus]

Baby just give me one reason, give me just one reason why
Baby just give me one reason, give me just one reason why (I should stay)
Said I told you that I love you and there ain't no more to say


[Ending: Riff 1]

Riff 1:

e|--17--14----------------------------------\-|
B|----------17--14----------------------------|
G|------------------16--14--------------------|
D|--------------------------(14)-h-16~~~~~----|
A|--------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|


************************************

x = Muted String
/ = Slide Up
\ = Slide Down
v = Down Stroke
^ = Up Stroke

************************************
Tunning: Standard (E A D G B e)
My guitar just confirmed what my ear told me: It's a simple 12-bar
blues. There are a few variations on the pattern, but the one I use
is:

E7 A7 E7 E7 A7 A7 E7 E7 B7 A7 E7 B7

Here's how it fits with the lyrics:


GIVE ME ONE REASON
On: Tracy Chapman, _New Beginning_
Words & Music: Tracy Chapman


[INTRO:] Blues progression (above)


[Chorus]
E7 A7 E7
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back around
A7 E7
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back around
B7
'Cause I don't want to leave you lonely
A7 E7 B7
But you've got to make me change my mind

Baby I got your number and I know that you've got mine
Baby I got your number and I know that you've got mine
You can call me baby, you can call me anytime (but you got to call me)

[Chorus]

I don't want no one to squeeze me, they might take away my life
I don't want no one to squeeze me, they might take away my life
I just want someone to hold me and rock me through the night

This youthful heart can love you and give you what you need
This youthful heart can love you and give you what you need
But I'm too old to go chasing you around, wasting my precious energy

[Chorus]

Baby just give me one reason, give me just one reason why
Baby just give me one reason, give me just one reason why I should stay
Because I told you that I love you and there ain't no more to say

End on E7

Give Me One Reason
written by Tracy Chapman
originally performed by Tracy Chapman
track #9 on "new beginning"
transcribed by Drew Boles (BolesGJD@aol.com)

This song has a pretty intricate and difficult lead.
However, it sounds really good when you can play it. Tracy
plays the rhythm electric guitar (basic pattern is tabbed
below), and her guitarist plays the blues lead guitar.

Here are the lyrics and the basic chord progressions for the
song. The guitar parts are tabbed below.

Chords used:
F#=244322 B=x24442 C#=x46664

Lyrics:
F# B C# F# B C# F# C# B F#


[intro]
F# B C# F# B C# F# C# B F#


[Chorus]
F# B C#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back
F#
around.
F# B C#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back
F#
around.
C#
I said I don't wanna leave you lonely,
B F#
You've gotta make me change my mind.


[Verse]
F# B C# F#
Baby I got your number and I know that you got mine.
F# B C# F#
You know that I called you, I called too many times.
C#
You can call me baby
B F#
You can call anytime, but you got to call me.


[Chorus]
F# B C#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back
F#
around.
F# B C#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back
F#
around.
C#
I said I don't wanna leave you lonely,
B F#
You've gotta make me change my mind.


[Verse]
F# B C#
I don't want no one to squeeze me, they might take away my
F#
life.
F# B C#
I don't want no one to squeeze me, they might take away my
F#
life.
C#
I just want someone to hold me,
B F#
And rock me through the night.
F# B C# F#
This youthful heart can love you and give you what you need.
F# B C#
I said this youthful heart can love you and give you what
F#
you need.
C#
But I'm too old to go chasing around,
B F#
Wastin' my precious energy.


[Chorus]
F# B C#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back
F#
around.
F# B C#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back
F#
around.
C#
I said I don't wanna leave you lonely,
B F#
You've gotta make me change my mind.
F# B C# F#
Baby just give me one reason, give me just one reason why.
F# B C# F#
Baby just give me one reason, give me just one reason why

I should stay here.
C# B
Because I told you that I loved you, and there ain't no more
F#
to say.

TAB notation:
P: pull off
h: hammer on
/: slide up
\: slide down
b: 1/4 bend
B: 1/2 bend
Bb: full bend
~: vibrato
r: release bend
<->: hold bend (until released)
*: palm mute
pb: prebend


Tracy's part:

[Intro:]
F# B C# F# B
E---------2-----2-----2------4-----2-----2-----2-----2------|
B---------2-----2-----4------6-----2-----2-----2-----2------|
G---------3---3-3-----4----6-6-----3---3-3-----3---3-3------|
D---------4---4-4-----4----6-------4---4-4-----4---4-4------|
A-------------4---0-2----4-------------4-----------4---0-2--|
E-0-0-0-2---2------------------0-2---2-----0-2---2----------|

C# F# C# B
-2------4-----2-----2-----2-----2-----4-----4-----2-----2---|
-4------6-----2-----2-----2-----2-----6-----6-----4-----4---|
-4----6-6-----3---3-3-----3---3-3-----6---6-6-----4---4-4---|
-4----6-------4---4-4-----4---4-4-----6---6-------4---4-----|
----4-------------4-----------4---0-4---4-----0-2---2-------|
----------0-2---2-----0-2---2-------------------------------|

F#
-----2-----2------2-----2--|
-----2-----2------2-----2--|
-----3---3-3------3---3-3--|
-----4---4-4------4---4-4--|
-----4---4--------4---4----|
-0-2---2------0-2---2------|
(this pattern repeats throughout the entire song)


lead guitar part:

[verse 2:]
E-----------------------------------------------------------|
B-------------------------12B13-----------------------------|
G----------11----14h11~---------13B14r13--11h13p11~---------|
D----11h13----13--------------------------------------------|
A-----------------------------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------------------------|

------------------------------------------------------------|
--7\5--------------12B13r12-10----10B11--9b-9b-7-4---7-9b10-|
------4B5r4--2-----------------11------------------8--------|
----------------4~------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------|

------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------|
-----------------------------------12-----------------------|
-\5---7---9B10--------------12Bb14----14r12p10--12p10-------|
---------------11~--9B10r9-----------------------------11~--|

------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------|
-5/7\5--5--5-----5------------------------------------------|
--------4b-4b-2--4p2------------4B5--5r4--4p2---------------|
----------------------4~----2*----------------4~------------|

----------------------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------------------|
----------------5b--7Bb9r8B9--9r7h5--------5b--7-7p5------------|
-------5--7--7-----------------------7--7-------------7---7-----|
---/6---------------------------------------------------6----4--|

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------5b-----------9Bb11--11r9-------------7--9--------|
---7---7---------------9B10-10r9--7-----10B12--------------/8---8------------------8--|


----------------------9b------11b------12-------------------|
-9pb10r9p7---7-------10b------12b------12Bb14r13B14---------|
-----------8----/11-------11-------11-----------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------|

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------12-----------12Bb14------14r12---10--12Bb14--10h12~--10h12--|


-----------------------------------------------------------|
---12pb14r12p10--12p10b------------------------------------|
--------------------------11~---9--------------------------|
------------------------------------11--11\9---7-----------|
---------------------------------------------------9~~~----|
-----------------------------------------------------------|

That's basically the entire song. There are two more riffs
in the last two verses that I thought were neat. Here they
are (sorry, I don't remember where they go, or what chords
support them).


[riff 1:]

-------14-------16-------18---------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------|
--/15------/16------/18-------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------|

[riff 2:]

-17b-17b-14-----------------14------------------------------|
------------17p14--------14----------------17---------------|
------------------16Bb18-------16B17r16-14-16B17r16-14------|
-------------------------------------------------------16---|
------------------------------------------------------------|
------------------------------------------------------------|

There rest of the song is just a guitar ad lib. So, that's
all everybody. Have fun.

transcribed by: Drew Boles (BolesGJD@aol.com)
Tunning: Standard (E A D G B e)
Tracy Chapman
Give Me one Reason


[Acoustic Intro]

e|---------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------2-----2-2-------4---6-6------2-----2-2-------|
G|------------3-----3-3-------4---6-6------3-----3-3-------|
D|------------4-----4-4-------4---6-6------4-----4-4-------|
A|-----------------------0-2----4--------------------------|
E|--0-0-0-2-------2-------------------0-2-----2------0-----|


e|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----2-----2-2--------4-----4--------4----6-6--------2-----2--------|
G|-----3-----3-3--------4-----4--------4----6-6--------3-----3--------|
D|-----4-----4-4--------4-----4--------4----6-6--------4-----4--------|
A|----------------0--2-----2-----0--2-----4---------------------------|
E|--2-----2--------------------------------------0--2-----2-----0-----|


e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----2-----2-2--------6--------4-----4-4--------2-----2-2--------2-----2-2-----|
G|-----3-----3-3--------6--------4-----4-4--------3-----3-3--------3-----3-3-----|
D|-----4-----4-4--------6--------4-----4-4--------4-----4-4--------4-----4-4-----|
A|----------------0--4-----0--2-----2--------------------------------------------|
E|--2-----2---------------------------------0--2-----2-------0--2-----2----------|


[Chorus]

F# B
Give me one reason to stay here
C# F#
and i'll turn right back around
B
Give me one reason to stay here
C# F#
and i'll turn right back around
C# B#
Said i don't wanna leave you lonely
F#
you got to make me change my mind


[Verse 1]

F# B
Baby i've got your number
C# F#
oh, and i know that you've got mine

Guitar 2 (distortion)
e|-----------------------------|
B|-------7~~~-----10\\7~~~~~~--|
G|-6//8--------8---------------|
D|-----------------------------|
A|-----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|

B
you know that i called you
C
I called too many times

e|-----------------------------|
B|--10b~~~~---9b--9--7/9\~~~~7-|
G|-----------------------------|
D|-----------------------------|
A|-----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|

C#
you can call me baby
B
you can call me anytime
F#
you go to call me

e|-----------------------------|
B|-/5~~~-----------------------|
G|--------4b2b-----------------|
D|--------------4~~~~----------|
A|-----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|


[Chorus]

F# B
Give me one reason to stay here
C# F#
and i'll turn right back around

e|--7b---5b---------5b---------|
B|-----------7~~~~-------------|
G|-----------------------------|
D|-----------------------------|
A|-----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|

B
Give me one reason to stay here
C#
and i'll turn right back around

e|---------------------------------|
B|--10b-10b--7--7~~~~---7~~~~--9b--|
G|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|

C# B
Said I don't want to leave you lonely
F#
you got to make me change my mind

e|-----------------------------|
B|-------7--9b--7~~~~----------|
G|---/9----------------9b\-----|
D|-----------------------------|
A|-----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|


[Verse 2]

F# B
I don't want no one to squeeze me
C# F#
they might take away my life

e|-----------------------------|
B|-12b-------------------------|
G|-----(12)--10-12\10----------|
D|---------------------11~~~---|
A|-----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|
B
I don't want no one to squeeze me
C# F#
they might take away my life

e|-------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------|
G|--9/11\9---9---9/7--9\7--------|
D|-----------9---9/7--9\7--------|
A|-------------------------9~~~--|
E|-------------------------------|

C#
I just want someone to hold me

e|---------------|
B|---------------|
G|---8\6~~~------|
D|---------------|
A|---------------|
E|---------------|

B F#
Oh, and rock me through the night


[Solo]

e|---------------------------------5b\---7b---7\5\---5b-7-7\5-----------------|
B|-----------------------5-7-7~~-----------------7------------7~~--7~~-5b\----|
G|---(4)b--4\2b-------/6-----------------------------------------6------------|
D|-4-------------4~~4---------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
*hold bend
E|----------------11--12~~--12------12--------------------------|
B|----7~~----9b---12--14~~-----12b*-----(12)\10--12--(10)/12~~--|
G|-/8-----8-----------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------|

e|-----------------------------------------------------------|
B|-10-12--12---12\10--12---10b----------\5-------------------|
G|------------------------------11----------6--4--2--4~~-----|
D|----------------------------------11-----------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|

F# B
This youthful heart can love you
C# F#
yes, and give you what you need

e|---------------------------------|
B|----5--5~~--7--------------------|
G|-6-------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|

B
I said this youthful heart can love you

e|--------|
B|--------|
G|-4/6\4--|
D|-4/6\4--|
A|-4/6\4--|
E|--------|

C# F#
ho, and give you what you need

e|---------|
B|----7~~--|
G|---------|
D|-7-------|
A|---------|
E|---------|

C# C#7
But i'm to old to go chasin you around

e|----------|
B|----------|
G|--4\2-----|
D|--3\1-----|
A|--4\2-----|
E|----------|

B7 F#
wastin' my precious energy

e|-----5b----------------5b--------|
B|--7------7\5--7~~~--7------------|
G|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|


[Chorus]

F# B
Give me one reason to stay here

e|-----7--|
B|5/7~----|
G|--------|
D|--------|
A|--------|
E|--------|

C# F#
yes, now turn right back around

e|--9b--7b\5--7b\5-----7--5--------|
B|------------------7--------7~~~--|
G|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|

B
Give me one reason to stay here

e|-----5--|
B|--5b----|
G|--------|
D|--------|
A|--------|
E|--------|

C# F#
oh, i'll turn right back around

e|---------------------------------|
B|----------------14~~~~-----------|
G|--11~~-13--/15-------------------|
D|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|

C# B
Said i don't wanna leave you lonely
F#
you go to make me change my mind

e|--17--17------------------14----------16--14-------|
B|----------17-14-------14------16b\14--16--14-------|
G|-----------------16b--------------------------16~~-|
D|---------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|


[Outro]

F#
Baby just give me one reason

e|--11b----|
B|--12b----|
G|---------|
D|---------|
A|---------|
E|---------|

B C# F#
oh, just give me one reason why

e|--7b\5--5/7b--5-----------|
B|-----------------7~~~-----|
G|--------------------------|
D|--------------------------|
A|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|

B
Baby just give me one reason

e|-------14~~--|
B|-------------|
G|--15b--------|
D|-------------|
A|-------------|
E|-------------|

C# F#
oh, give just one reason why i should stay


e|--11b-----------|
B|--12b--10-------|
G|----------11~~~-|
D|----------------|
A|----------------|
E|----------------|

C#
Said i told you that i loved you

guitar 2
e|---------------------|
B|------------7--------|
G|--8--9--10--8--------|
D|------------9--------|
A|---------------------|
E|---------------------|

guitar 1 plays during words
e|--------------------------|
B|-----6--------------------|
G|-----6--------------------|
D|-----6--------------------|
A|--4-----4--0---2----------|
E|--------------------------|

B
And there ain't no more to say

guitar 2
e|--7b--5--7-----------------------------------|
B|------------7-----/7~~~----------------------|
G|---------------6-----------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------|

guitar 1
e|--------------------------|
B|--------------------------|
G|--------------------------|
D|--------------------------|
A|-----4--0--2--0-----------|
E|--2--------------2--0--2--|



************************************

| (n) Ghost note
| b Bend
| / Slide up
| \ Slide down
| ~ Vibrato

************************************
Song info
Give Me One Reason
Tracy Chapman
2001
  • Rock
  • Folk Rock
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