Rate for accuracy
🎸
Stephanie Says' by the Velvet Underground. Off the so-called "lost" VU album between their 2nd self-titled & Loaded. Tabbed by Geoff Dugwyler The song has two guitar parts: the distinct picked guitar chords, and a much quieter guitar playing those chords to match the picking. It's recommended you use barre chords to play both. Can play C at the 8th fret, Em at the 7th (1st inversion), Am at the 5th, and G at the 3rd. Just playing the chords without the picking still sounds good, too. If you have a xylophone, the song is in C major and life is easy. Only play what would normally be the white keys on the piano -- CDEFGAB -- and whatever you do will sound perfect. The melody itself shouldn't be too hard to figure out if you want to match it exactly. Also, make sure to get about 3 friends to back you up singing "Stephanie says," "hang up the phone," etc. at just the right moments (these friends preferably being John Cale, Sterling Morrison, and Doug Yule [omit Doug Yule if you don't like him]).
INTRO / MAIN riff C Em Am G e ---------8-------7-------5-------3- B -------8-------8-------5-------3--- G -----9-------9-------5-------4----- D --10-------9-------7-------5------- A ----------------------------------- E ----------------------------------- CHANGE 1 riff C Em Am Dm G e ---------8-------7-------5------5----------10--------10-------3------3--- B -------8-------8-------5------5---------10--------10--------3------3----- G -----9-------9-------5------5--------10--------10---------4------4------- D --10-------9-------7--------------12--------------------5---------------- A ------------------------------------------------------------------------- E ------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHANGE 2 riff - Exact same as Change 1 riff, but 2 measures longer on G. (You can either continue picking here, or change up to strumming -- very hard to tell what they do on the recording.) CHORUS (strummed) C F C F But she's not afraid to die; the people all call her Alaska C F C G Between worlds so the people ask her, cause it's all in her mind C G it's all in her mind BRIDGE Then ask it is it good or bad Dm G C Em Am C e -----------5------------------3--------------8-------7-------5-------3- B --------6--------6----------3------3-------8-------8-------5-------3--- G -----7---------7----------4------4-------9-------9-------5-------4----- D --7---------------------5-------------10-------9-------7-------5------- A ----------------------------------------------------------------------- E ----------------------------------------------------------------------- It's such an icy feeling Dm G e --------------10----------------------10------------ B -----------10----------10----------12----------12--- G --------10----------10----------12----------12------ D -----12----------12----------12----------12--------- A --12----------------------10------------------------ E ---------------------------------------------------- OUTRO (strummed) C F It's so cold in Alaska x3 (then repeated intro/main riff, but slower, and end on a strummed C) Song order ========== Intro x2 Main riff Stephanie says " that she wants to know Change 1 why she's given half ... Main riff Stephanie says " when answerin' the phone Change 2 what country shall I ... Chorus But she's not afraid to die ... Main riff x2 Main riff Stephanie says " that she wants to know Change 1 why is it though she's the door ... Main riff Stephanie says " but doesn't hang up the phone Change 2 what sea shell say is calling ... Chorus But she's not afraid to die ... Bridge Then ask it is it good or bad ... Outro It's so cold in Alaska ... Main riff, played at a slowed tempo. ... and end on a strummed C.
Other Versions & Arrangements
- Stephanie Says (Chords)
Song History
Last Updated: