Give Me One Reason Chords & Guitar Lesson
Welcome to my Give Me One Reason chord and strumming lesson by Tracy Chapman. This is such a great song especially if you love the 12 Bar Blues. Since I finished my Blues Guitar Course, my students asked me for some cool modern blues style songs and this one is a keeper for sure.
You can scroll down for a detailed video lesson on how to play Give Me One Reason on guitar which details the strumming patterns as well as the extra little spices I like to do when I’m performing live.
Return to All SongsJump to:
Give Me One Reason Guitar Chords:
Give Me One Reason Strumming Patterns:
Chorus Strumming: With Shuffle Feel
> >
1 + 2 + 3 + 4+
B D B B DB
You could do all downs, but I like the spice of the bass note because that’s what Tracy is doing in the song.
Split Measure Strumming:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
B DD B D D
Lauren’s Spicy Strum:
I show you this strum in the lesson video. I think adding a hammer from an open string add a cool spice to this song. Either way, this is how I like to play it. Not true to the record, but mmm mmm good.
The great thing about this song is that is follow a 12 Bar Blues progression with some slight variations. So once you play through the entire chord progression, you just start back from the beginning.
F# |B C#| F F
B |B C#| F F
C# B F F
As a teaching moment, if this were played in a standard 12 Bar the progression would be:
F# F# F# F#
B B F# F#
C# B F# F#
So she changed both the 2nd and 6th measures to introduce both the IV and V chords (B and C#) intro the progression for a little more movement and a super smooth sound. I don’t know about you, but I love it.
Give Me One Reason Guitar Lesson:
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Give Me One Reason Chord Chart:
Chorus:
F# |B C#| F# F#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back around
F# |B C#| F# F#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back around
C# B F# F#
Said I don't wanna leave you lonely you got to make me change my mind
Verse:
F# |B C#| F# F#
Baby I've got your number oh, and I know that you've got mine
F# |B C#| F# F#
You know that I called you I called too many times
C# B F# F#
You can call me baby you can call me anytime you go to call me
Chorus:
F# |B C#| F# F#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back around
F# |B C#| F# F#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back around
C# B F# F#
Said I don't wanna leave you lonely you got to make me change my mind
Verse:
F# |B C#| F# F#
I don't want no one to squeeze me they might take away my life
F# |B C#| F# F#
I don't want no one to squeeze me they might take away my life
C# B F# F#
I just want someone to hold me Oh, and rock me through the night
Solo:
F# |B C#| F# F#
F# |B C#| F# F#
C#BF#F#
Verse:
F# |B C#| F# F#
This youthful heart can love you yes, and give you what you need
F# |B C#| F# F#
I said this youthful heart can love you Oh, and give you what you need
||C# C#| B F# F#
But I'm to old to go chasin you around wastin' my precious energy
Chorus:
F# |B C#| F# F#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back around
F# |B C#| F# F#
Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back around
C# B F# F#
Said I don't wanna leave you lonely you got to make me change my mind
F# |B C#| F# F#
Baby just give me one reason oh, just give me one reason why
F# |B C#| F# F#
Baby just give me one reason oh, give me just one reason why I should stay
C# B
Said i told you that i loved you And there ain't no more to say
Outro:
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-----4--0--2--0------------|
--2--------------2--0--2---|
This file is the author’s own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It’s intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
We do not distribute printable chord and lyrics charts. These charts are here only to support online learning. We highly recommend buying music from Hal Leonard or a reputable online sheet music store.