BIG YELLOW TAXI - by Joni Mitchell
View chords used in this chart
Transcribed by Joe Riess (jriess@ddt.eng.uc.edu).
E 022100
Emaj7 021100
Esus4 022200
E(no 3) 022400
A 002220
Asus4 002230
A/C# 04222x
B/D# 06444x
B 224442
Bsus 224452
Intro:
E Emaj7 A/C# B/D#
E Emaj7 A/C# B/D#
E Esus4 E E Esus4 E Esus4 E
E Esus4 E(no 3) Esus4 E Esus4 E
First verse:
A Asus4 A Asus4 E Esus4 E(no 3) Esus4 E Esus4 E
Esus4 E
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
A Asus4 B Bsus E
With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spot
Chorus:
E Emaj7
Don't it always seem to go
A/C# B/D# E
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone
A Asus4 B Bsus E
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
E Esus4 E(no 3) Esus4 E Esus4 E Esus4 E E Esus4 E(no 3) Esus4 E Esus4 E
(Shoo bop bop bop bop Shoo bop bop bop)
Second verse:
They took all the trees and put 'em in a tree museum
And they charged all the people twenty-five bucks just to see 'em
Repeat chorus:
Third verse:
Hey farmer, farmer, put away your DDT now
Give me spots on my apples but leave me the birds and the bees, please
Repeat chorus twice:
Fourth verse:
Late last night I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi carried off my old man
Repeat chorus twice:
How to play BIG YELLOW TAXI - by Joni Mitchell
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is E. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.