Billy Joel - Piano Man
Hello! Below you'll find my "Piano Man" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This song by Billy Joel is a total classic. In the video I teach all parts, including the jazzy "pre - intro" and piano solo. I even give the option to improvise your own solo with the minor blues scale!
But you can consider these more advanced sections optional, and still do a great version with the main chord progressions.
Enjoy!
Piano Man Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for Piano Man:
⚠️ Important Note: For the piano hook (10:41 in the video), there is a mistake on the on-screen chart and in how I teach it. The right hand at the end of the 2nd and 3rd measures should be C F C C and C G C C respectively, with the last note of each jumping back down to middle C instead of F or G. The way I charted it sounds fine, but hitting middle C is not only is more accurate, it is a bit easier. Once I sped it back up and in the full playthrough, I played it correctly.
Piano Man Chords & Lyrics
[Pre Intro]
| Dm7 | Ddim7 |
| Dm7 | Ddim7 |
[Intro]
| C | G/B | F/A | C/G | Fmaj7 | C/E | D7 | G |
| C | G/B | F/A | C/G | F | F/G |
| C | F/C | G/C | F/C** | X2
[Verse 1]
C G/B F/A C/G
Its nine o'clock on a Saturday
F C/E D7 G
The regular crowd shuffles in
C G/B F/A C/G
There's an old man sitting next to me
F F/G C C
Making love to his tonic and gin
[Instrumental 1]
| C | G/B | F/A | C/G | F | F/G |
| C | C | F/C | F/C |
| C | G/B | F/A | C/G | F | F/G |
| C | C | F/C | F/C |
[Verse 2]
C G/B F/A C/G
He says son can you play me a memory
F C/E D7 G
I'm not really sure how it goes
C G/B F/A C/G
But it's sad and its sweet and I knew it complete
F F/G C C (G/B)
When I wore a younger man's clothes
C G/B F/A C/G
He says son can you play me a memory
F C/E D7 G
I'm not really sure how it goes
C G/B F/A C/G
But it's sad and its sweet and I knew it complete
F F/G C C (G/B)
When I wore a younger man's clothes
[Interlude]
Am Am/G D7/F# F
La la la di dee da
Am Am/G D7/F# G G/F Em G7/D
La la di dee da da dum
Am Am/G D7/F# F
La la la di dee da
Am Am/G D7/F# G G/F Em G7/D
La la di dee da da dum
[Chorus]
C G/B F/A C/G
Sing us a song you're the piano man
F C/E D7 G
Sing us a song tonight
C G/B F/A C/G
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
F F/G C C
And you've got us feeling alright
Sing us a song you're the piano man
F C/E D7 G
Sing us a song tonight
C G/B F/A C/G
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
F F/G C C
And you've got us feeling alright
[Instrumental 2]
| C | G/B | F/A | C/G | F | F/G |
| C | F/C | G/C | F/C** | X2
| C | G/B | F/A | C/G | F | F/G |
| C | F/C | G/C | F/C** | X2
[Verse 3]
C G/B F/A C/G
Now John at the bar is a friend of mine
F C/E D7 G
He gets me my drinks for free
C G/B F/A C/G
And he's quick with a joke or to light up your smoke
F F/G C C F/C F/C
But there's someplace that he'd rather be
C G/B F/A C/G
Now John at the bar is a friend of mine
F C/E D7 G
He gets me my drinks for free
C G/B F/A C/G
And he's quick with a joke or to light up your smoke
F F/G C C F/C F/C
But there's someplace that he'd rather be
[Verse 4]
C G/B F/A C/G
He says, "Bill, I believe this is killing me"
F C/E D7 G
As the smile ran away from his face
C G/B F/A C/G
"Well I'm sure that I could be a movie star
F F/G C C (G/B)
If I could get out of this place" oooh
C G/B F/A C/G
He says, "Bill, I believe this is killing me"
F C/E D7 G
As the smile ran away from his face
C G/B F/A C/G
"Well I'm sure that I could be a movie star
F F/G C C (G/B)
If I could get out of this place" oooh
[Interlude]
Am Am/G D7/F# F
La la la di dee da
Am Am/G D7/F# G G/F Em G7/D
La la di dee da da dum
Am Am/G D7/F# F
La la la di dee da
Am Am/G D7/F# G G/F Em G7/D
La la di dee da da dum
[Verse 5]
C G/B F/A C/G
Now Paul is a real estate novelist
F C/E D7 G
Who never had time for a wife
C G/B F/A C/G
And he's talkin' with Davy, who's still in the Navy
F F/G C C
And probably will be for life
C G/B F/A C/G
Now Paul is a real estate novelist
F C/E D7 G
Who never had time for a wife
C G/B F/A C/G
And he's talkin' with Davy, who's still in the Navy
F F/G C C
And probably will be for life
[Instrumental 3]
| C | G/B | F/A | C/G | F | F/G |
| C | C | F/C | F/C |
| C | G/B | F/A | C/G | F | F/G |
| C | C | F/C | F/C |
[Verse 6]
C G/B F/A C/G
And the waitress is practicing politics
F C/E D7 G
As the businessmen slowly get stoned
C G/B F/A C/G
Yes, they're sharing a drink they call loneliness
F F/G C C (G/B)
But it's better than drinkin' alone
[Solo]
| Am | Am/G | D7/F# | F | X2
| Am | Am/G | D7/F# | D7/F# | G | G/F | Em | G7/D |
| Am | Am/G | D7/F# | F | X2
| Am | Am/G | D7/F# | D7/F# | G | G/F | Em | G7/D |
[Chorus]
C G/B F/A C/G
Sing us a song you're the piano man
F C/E D7 G
Sing us a song tonight
C G/B F/A C/G
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
F F/G C C
And you've got us feeling alright
[Instrumental 4]
| C | G/B | F/A | C/G | F | F/G |
| C | F/C | G/C | F/C** | X2
| C | G/B | F/A | C/G | F | F/G |
| C | F/C | G/C | F/C** | X2
[Verse 7]
C G/B F/A C/G
It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday
F C/E D7 G
And the manager gives me a smile
C G/B
'Cause he knows that it's me they've been
C G/B F/A C/G
It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday
F C/E D7 G
And the manager gives me a smile
C G/B
'Cause he knows that it's me they've been
F/A C/G
Comin' to see
F F/G C C F/C F/C
To forget about life for a while
F F/G C C F/C F/C
To forget about life for a while
[Verse 8]
C G/B F/A C/G
And the piano, it sounds like a carnival
F C/E D7 G
And the microphone smells like a beer
C G/B F/A C/G
And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar
F F/G C C (G/B)
And say, "man, what are you doin' here? oooh
C G/B F/A C/G
And the piano, it sounds like a carnival
F C/E D7 G
And the microphone smells like a beer
C G/B F/A C/G
And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar
F F/G C C (G/B)
And say, "man, what are you doin' here? oooh
[Interlude]
Am Am/G D7/F# F
La la la di dee da
Am Am/G D7/F# G G/F Em G7/D
La la di dee da da dum
Am Am/G D7/F# F
La la la di dee da
Am Am/G D7/F# G G/F Em G7/D
La la di dee da da dum
[Chorus]
C G/B F/A C/G
Sing us a song you're the piano man
F C/E D7 G
Sing us a song tonight
C G/B F/A C/G
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
F F/G C C
And you've got us feeling alright
C G/B F/A C/G
Sing us a song you're the piano man
F C/E D7 G
Sing us a song tonight
C G/B F/A C/G
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
F F/G C C
And you've got us feeling alright
[Outro]
| C | G/B | F/A | C/G | F | F/G |
| C | F/C | G/C | F/C** | X2
| C |
| C | G/B | F/A | C/G | F | F/G |
| C | F/C | G/C | F/C** | X2
| C |
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
Piano Man Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "Piano Man" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "Piano Man" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
