Billy Joel: Piano Man

Cover via Amazon

On September 11, 2008 I had been thinking about New York and had posted the chords to New York State of Mind. After watching a young man on The Voice, kind of singing like Billy Joel, I decided it was time to share some more hit songs from this gifted artist. Most of the chords to Billy's songs are from a songbook that I own, called Billy Joel - Billy Joel - Greatest Hits, Volumes 1 and 2 - Music Book, plus you'll find some chord progressions to his tunes online.

William Martin "Billy" Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American pianist, singer-songwriter, and composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man," in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to the RIAA. He also has the third best-selling album in the United States with his Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2
For more information, read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Joel

Piano Man is a cool song that was written in 1973, so very popular. It's written in the Key of C with 3/4 time signature. Here are the chords to the song.

     C      Em/B       Am  C/G
It's nine o'clock on a Saturday
    F       C/E            D7 G
The regular crowd shuffles in
           C    Em/B       Am      C/G
There's an old man sitting next to me
       F           G11       C   F/C Cmaj7 G11
Making love to his tonic and gin

          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 it's sad and it's sweet and I knew it complete
      F      G11             C
When I wore a younger man's clothes."

Am   Am/G   D7/F# F 
la la la, di da da
Am   Am/G   D7/F#   G  G/F C/E G7/D
La la, di di da da dum

C         Em/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, we're all in the mood for a melody
    F                 G11         C   F/C Cmaj7
And you've got us all feeling alright

    C           Em/B      Am         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            Em/B              Am          C/G
And he's quick with a joke and he'll light up your smoke
            F               G11         C   F/C Cmaj7 G11
But there's some place that he'd rather be
[ Tab from: http://www.guitaretab.com/b/billy-joel/275450.html ]
          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           G11           C
If I could get out of this place"

Am   Am/G       D7/F# F
la la la, di da da
Am    Am/G      D7/F#   D7 G  G/F C/E G7/D
La la, di di da da dum

Now Paul is a real estate novelist
Who never had time for a wife
And he's talking with Davy, who's still in the Navy
And probably will be for life

And the waitress is practicing politics
As the businessman slowly gets stoned
Yes, they're sharing a drink they call loneliness
But it's better than drinking alone

C         Em/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, we're all in the mood for a melody
    F                 G11         C    F/C
And you've got us all feeling alright

It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday
And the manager gives me a smile
'Cause he knows that it's me they've been coming to see
To forget about life for a while
And the piano, it sounds like a carnival
And the microphone smells like a beer
And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar
And say, "Man, what are you doing here?"

Am              D7
la la la, di da da
Am           D7    G  F C G7
La la, di di da da dum

C        Em/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, we're all in the mood for a melody
    F                 G11         C     
And you've got us all feeling alright
 


 

Here's my intro:

L.H./R.H. 

GF/CA

E/CG

D/CFG 

Then play,

C =  C/CEG

E,/B = B/BEG

Am = A/EAC

C/G = G/EGC

F = F/AC

C/E = E/GCD

D7 = D/F#CD

G = G/BG

C = C/CEG

Em/B = B/BEF

Am = A/ACE

C/G = G/EGA

F = FC/AF

G11 = GF/ACF

C = CEG/CEG

F/C = CFA/CFC

Cmaj7 = CGB/CGC

G11 = FA/ then play EE/ then DD/G

Em/B = B/BEG, B/GBF, B/GBE

Am = A/ACF

C/G = GEGC

F = F/FAC

C/E E/CGD

D7 = D/DF#C

G = G/DGB

C = C/CEG

Em/B = B/BEG, then B/GBF

Am = A/ACF then A/ACE

C/G = G/EGC

F = FAC

G11 = G/FAC

C = C/EGC

Am = A/CEA

Am/G = G/CEB

D7/F# = F#/CDA

F = F/CFA

Am = A/CE

Am/G = G/CEBC

D7/F# = F#/DF#B

G = G/BDG

G/F = F/DGBD

C/E = E/EGCE

G7/D = D/FBDF

C/GCEG

Em/B = B/GBEG

Am = A/FACF, then A/CEAC

C/G = G/CEG

F = F/CFA

C/E = E/CGC

D/DF#CD

G/DGBD, then G/EGBE, then G/FBDF

C = C/GCEG

Em = B/GBEG

Am = A/FACF, then A/EE, then A/CEAC

C/G = C/CEG

F = F/CFA, then F/FAC

G = G/FACF

C = CEG/CC

F/C = CFA/CFC

Cmaj7 = CEGB/CGC

CEG/CDEG



Billy Joel - Piano Man - Sheet Music (Digital Download)


Billy Joel - She's Always A Woman - Sheet Music (Digital Download)

Billy Joel - Uptown Girl - Sheet Music (Digital Download)

Music Notes.com is having a sale, if you're interested. I get some digital music from them often for my students. It's fast and easy, so you can learn a song right away.
Save 21% on any digital sheet music order of $25! Use code MNCYBER2012 at checkout


I think you'll soon discover that many of these famous piano players, like Bruce Hornsby and Billy Joel, have very large hands and are able to hit those octaves effortlessly. Do you have a favorite Billy Joel song that comes to mind?

By the way, Hear and Play is having a huge sale on music resources right now that you might want to check out, Songrobot Software

All the best,






"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

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Diana Krall- Just The Way You Are

My Christmas was "swonderful", hoping yours was, too! I was in the kitchen preparing lots of food for family and friends and playing with my 2 Grandsons. After taking a short break, now it's time to gear up with one of my favorite jazz artists, Diana Krall.

Anders Eriksson tells us "Diana Krall is an accomplished singer, and jazz pianist. Diana was born in British Columbia Canada in 1964. She learned to play piano when she was just four-years-old. Everyone is her family are musicians... In 2000, Diana went on a tour with Tony Bennett and was nominated for more Grammy awards. The Look of Love album went platinum, the following year. It went to number one on the Canadian charts, and on the Billboard 200, top ten. In 2001 Diana toured the world. The Paris Olympia concert was recorded, and Diana Krall-Live in Paris was released and went to the top of Billboard jazz charts, number 5 in Canada and the top 20 of Billboard 200. On the recording was a cover of Billy Joel’s “Just The Way You Are” and “A Case Of You” by Joni Mitchell."

http://www.johndoessqueezepage.com/jazz-music/diana-krall.htm/
I definitely agree with this article. I own the Diana Krall Dvd, Live In Paris and have concluded that Diana is indeed a great jazz improv artist. Have a listen to
Diana's studio version of Billy Joel's classic Just The Way You Are on YouTube:
Music Video for Diana Krall singing Billy Joel's "Just The Way You Are" Adolfo2500


Diana Krall Lyrics
Just The Way You Are Lyrics
* Just The Way You are Chords
D--------Bm6-----Gmaj7-------Bm----------D7/9
Don't go changing, to try and please me

Gmaj7-----Gm7-----------D-Am7-D7/9
You never let me down before

Gmaj7--Gm7---D------------Bm7
Don't imagine?. you're too familiar

Bm7--E9-------------------A9sus
And I don't see you anymore

D-----------Bm6-----Gmaj7--------Bm------D7
I would not leave you in times of trouble

Gmaj7----Gm7------------------D-Am7-D7
We never could have come this far

Gmaj7------Gm6--------D------------Bm7
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times

Em7--------------------A9sus--------D
I'll take you just the way you are
* Chord Breakdown:
Bm6= B G#/ D F# D to B

E9= E G#/ D F# D to E

A9sus= A G/ B D A to G

Gm6= G D/ Bb E to D


Learning 5 finger scales in any key helps recognize chords, with whole steps and half steps, whether Major or Minor Keys. Think Major first and listen to it, then play a Minor Chord, flatting the third, and listen to the sound you've made. Also play the octave of the chord in your l.h. and play the triad in your r.h. You can also arpeggiate the chord in your r.h. and that gives the chord a different sound.

I'm loving this song, I love You Just The Way You Are. Have a relaxing time playing the chords. I appreciate each and everyone of you. Thanks for stopping by my blog.


For more, visit my site:

http://ladydpiano.com

New York State of Mind- Billy Joel

9/11 is a very personal memory for me. You see, my friend, Tom McGuinness, was the Co-Pilot on that day. He and his wife & their two kids, Tommy and Jennifer went to my church. Many times I saw their smiles out in the lobby or in someone's home. All that changed on 9/11, as you know. They had 2 Memorial services, one on the East Coast and one at my church, on the West Coast. I played the keyboard and watched a very brave wife, Cheryl, and her son & daughter, sit in the front row. It is indeed a time for solemn reflection and prayer today. You know, everyone knew someone that was in this terrible tragedy. I thank you for listening to my story.

In honor of Tom McGuinness


Download this file (right click and "save target as")

More files like this @ HearandPlayZone.com!




http://obits.nola.com/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonID=91730&PageNo=4




New York State of Mind

C E7-9
Some folks like to get away,

Am7 Gdim C7
Take a holiday from the neighborhood,

F A7 Dm7 Bb9
Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood.

C E7-9 Am7 CM7 F C D7
But I'm takin' a Greyhound on the Hudson River line --

G9 Am7 G E7-9 Am7
I'm in a New York state of mind.


C E7-9
I've seen all the movie stars

Am7 Gdim C7
In their fancy cars and their lim - ou - sines,

F A7 Dm7 Bb9
Been high in the Rockys under the evergreens;

C E7-9 Am7 CM7 F C D7
I know what I'm needin', and I don't wanna waste more time --

G9 Am7 G
I'm in a New York state of mind.



Bridge:

E7 GM7
It was so easy livin' day by day

Gm7 C9 FM7
Out of touch with the rhythym and blues;

Bm7 E7 AM7
But now I need a little give and take,

Am7 D7 GM7
The New York Times, the Daily News.


C E7-9
It comes down to reality,

Am7 Gdim C7
And it's fine with me, 'cause I've let it slide;

F A7 Dm7 Bb9
I don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside.

C E7-9 Am7 CM7 F C D7
I don't have any reasons; I left them all behind --

G9 Am7 G
I'm in a New York state of mind.


Coda:

C E7-9 Am7 CM7 F C D7
I'm just taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River line.

G9 C E7-9 Am7 Bb9 C7/9
'Cause I'm in a New York state of mind.

This is one of those great modern songs!


Here's an awesome tutorial for N.Y. State of Mind.
One of 4 parts:



If your searching for a back up track, here you go:

http://www.karaoke-version.com/en/mp3-backingtrack/billy-joel/new-york-state-of-mind.html


http://www.LadyDpiano.com