Piano Man by Billy Joel

Key: C · 89 BPM · 4/4

Piano Man by Billy Joel is written in C major. Its chords cycle through the I-IV-I-V progression — plagal + authentic mix: C-F-C-G. At 89 BPM, it moves at a relaxed, mid-tempo pace.

The progression

This song follows the I-IV-I-V progression (Plagal + authentic mix) in C major. Chords are automatically detected — if something looks off, let us know.

Learn more about the I-IV-I-V progression

Play it in other keys

Capo	Shape key	Chords to play
No capo	C	C-F-G
Capo 3	A	A-D-E
Capo 5	G	G-C-D

Chord chart

0:00 Dm7
0:04 Ddim
0:06 G
0:08 C
0:09 G
0:10 F
0:11 C
0:12 F
0:13 C
0:15 G
0:16 C
0:17 G
0:18 F
0:23 C
0:24 F
0:25 C
0:32 G
0:33 F
0:34 G
0:35 F
0:36 C
0:38 G
0:39 C
0:40 G
0:41 F
0:43 C
0:43 F
0:45 C
0:49 G
0:50 F
0:51 C
0:52 F
0:54 C
0:59 G
1:00 F
1:01 C
1:02 F
1:03 C
1:05 G
1:06 C
1:07 G
1:08 F
1:09 C
1:10 F
1:12 C
1:14 Am
1:17 F
1:18 Am
1:20 D
1:22 G
1:24 C
1:26 G
1:26 C
1:28 G
1:28 F
1:30 C
1:31 F
1:32 C
1:33 G
1:35 C
1:36 G
1:37 F
1:41 C
1:44 G
1:45 F
1:46 C
1:47 F
1:49 C
1:50 F
1:51 C
1:54 F
1:55 C
1:58 G
1:59 F
2:00 C
2:01 F
2:02 C
2:04 G
2:05 C
2:06 G
2:07 Am
2:08 C
2:09 F
2:11 C
2:13 F
2:15 C
2:16 G
2:17 F
2:18 C
2:19 F
2:20 C
2:22 G
2:23 C
2:24 G
2:25 F
2:26 C
2:27 F
2:29 C
2:31 Am
2:34 F
2:35 Am
2:37 D
2:39 G
2:41 C
2:43 G7
2:43 C
2:45 G
2:45 F
2:46 C
2:48 F
2:49 C
2:51 G
2:52 C
2:53 G
2:54 F
2:58 C
3:01 G
3:02 Am
3:03 C
3:04 F
3:06 C
3:08 F
3:10 C
3:11 G
3:12 F
3:13 C
3:14 F
3:15 C
3:17 G
3:18 C
3:19 G
3:20 F
3:21 C
3:22 F
3:24 C
3:26 Am
3:29 F
3:30 Am
3:33 F
3:34 Am
3:36 D
3:38 G
3:40 C
3:41 G
3:42 C
3:43 G
3:44 Am
3:45 C
3:46 F
3:47 C
3:49 G
3:50 C
3:51 G
3:52 F
3:53 C
3:54 F
3:56 C
3:59 G
4:00 Am
4:01 C
4:02 F
4:04 C
4:05 F
4:06 C
4:09 F
4:10 C
4:13 G
4:14 F
4:15 G
4:16 F
4:17 C
4:19 G
4:20 C
4:21 G
4:22 F
4:26 C
4:31 G
4:32 F
4:33 C
4:34 F
4:35 C
4:37 G
4:38 C
4:39 G
4:40 F
4:41 C
4:42 F
4:44 C
4:46 Am
4:49 F
4:50 Am
4:52 D
4:54 G
4:56 C
4:57 G7
4:58 C
4:59 G
5:00 Am
5:01 C
5:02 F
5:03 C
5:05 G
5:06 C
5:07 G
5:08 Am
5:09 C
5:10 F
5:11 C
5:15 G
5:16 F
5:16 C
5:18 F
5:19 C

Frequently asked questions

What key is Piano Man in?

Piano Man is in C major.

What chords does Piano Man use?

The core of Piano Man cycles through C, F, G (3 chords).

What is the tempo of Piano Man?

Piano Man runs at 89 BPM in 4/4 time.

What chord progression does Piano Man use?

Piano Man follows the I-IV-I-V progression. It's a plagal + authentic mix.

What capo should I use for Piano Man?

No capo needed — C major already sits in standard open-chord shapes.