Piano Man
View chords used in this chart
NOTE: Bass NOTES in parenthesis (EG (B)
Play Like a Waltz - 3/4 Time
Intro:
A11 Jazz Fill G7 Jazz Fill
C Em/B Am C/G F D7/F# G
C Em/B Am7 C/G F G
C F/C G/C F/C-C-G/C-C
C F/C G/C F/C-C-G/C ...
VERSE
C Em/B Am C/G
Its nine o'clock on a Saturday
F C/E D7 Lick (F#) -{G}
The regular crowd shuffles in
C Em/B F/A C/G
There's an old man sitting next to me
F F/G C
Makin love to his tonic and gin
Part of intro
C Em/B Am C/G F G C
BUILD C C F/C F/C
C Em/B Am 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 Em/B Am C/G
But its sad and its sweet and I knew it complete
F G C ( B)
When I wore a younger mans clothes
Bridge
Am C/G D/F# F
La la la, de de da
Am C/G D/F# G G7/F C/E G/D
La la, de de da da da
C Em/B Am C/G
Sing us a song, you're the piano man
F C/E D7 Lick G
Sing us a song tonight
C Em/B Am C/G
Well, were all in the mood for a melody
F G C
And you've got us feelin' alright
Part of intro
C Em/B Am C/G F G ...
C F/C G/C F/C-C-G/C-C
C F/C G/C F/C-C-G/C ...
C Em/B Am C/G
Now john at the bar is a friend of mine
F C/E D7 G Lick
He gets me my drinks for free
C Em/B Am C/G
And he's quick with a joke or a light of your smoke
F G C
But there's someplace that he'd rather be
FILL: C C F/C F/C
C Em/B Am 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 Em/B Am C/G
"Well I'm sure that I could be a movie star,
F F/G C (B)
If I could get out of this place." Oh
Bridge
Am C/G D/F# F
La la la, de de da
Am C/G D/F# G G7/F C/E G/D
La la, de de da da da
C Em/B Am C/G
Now Paul is real estate novelist
F C/E D7 G
Who never had time for a wife
C Em/B Am C/G
and he's talking with Davy, whose still in the Navy
F F/G C
and probably will be for life
Part of intro
C Em/B Am C/G F G ...
INTENSLY C C F/C F/C
C Em/B Am C/G
And the waitress is practicing politics
F C/E D7 G
As the businessmen slowly gets stoned
C Em/B Am C/G
Yes, they're sharing a drink they call loneliness
F G C
But its better than drinkin' alone
Solo
Am C/G D/F# F
Am C/G D/F# F
Am C/G D/F# G G7/F C/E G/D
C C/B Am C/G
Sing us a song, you're the piano man
F C/E D7 G
Sing us a song tonight
C C/B Am Am/G
Well, were all in the mood for a melody
F G C
And you've got us feelin alright
Part of intro
C Em/B Am C/G F G C
C F/C G/C F/C-C-G/C-C
C F/C G/C F/C-C-G/C ...
C Em/B Am C/G
Its a pretty good crowd for a Saturday
F C/E D7/F# G
And the manager gives me a smile
C C/B Am C/G
cause he knows that its me they've been comin' to see
F G C
To forget about life for a while
INTENSE C C F/C F/C
C Em/B Am C/G
And the piano, it sounds like a carnival
F C/E D7/F# G
And the microphone smells like a beer
C Em/B Am C/G
And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar
F G C (B)
And say, man, what are you doin' here? Oh
Am C/G D/F# F
La la la, de de da
Am C/G D/F3 G G/F C/E G/D
La la, de de da da da
C C/B Am C/G
Sing us a song, you're the piano man
F C/E D7 G
Sing us a song tonight
C Em/B Am C/G
Well, were all in the mood for a melody
F G C
And you've got us feelin alright
Ending
C Em/B Am C/G F G C
C F/C G/C F/C-C-G/C-C
C F/C G/C F/C-C-G/C ... C
KICEMAN
How to play Piano Man
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 B. 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.