Piano Man Chords, Lyrics and Harmonica Tabs
Notes on Harmonica and Tabs
– Use a diatonic C harmonica.
– ‘minus’ sign means draw, otherwise blow.
– Much of the harmonica part is played as chords – playing more than one note at a time. The tabs show only the melody line. I’ll leave it up to you to decide when to play more than one note at a time.
INTRO WITH HARMONICA
C Em/B Am C/G
5 -5 6 -6 6 -5 5 -5 5 4
F C/E D7 G
4 -4 5 -4
C Em/B Am C/G
5 -5 6 -6 6 -5 5 -5 5 4
F G11 C F/C CM7 G11
4 4 4 -5 5 4 4
VERSE
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 CM7 G11
Makin’ love to his tonic and gin
HARMONICA TURN AROUND
C Em/B Am C/G
5 -5 6 -6 6 -5 5 -5 5 4
F G11 C F/C CM7 G11
4 4 4 -5 5 4 4
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.”
BRIDGE
Am Am/G D7/F# F
Da da da, de de da
Am Am/G D7/F# D7
Da da, de de da da da
G G/F C/E G7 D
HARMONICA BUILD UP (on original version)
5 -5 6
CHORUS
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 CM7 G11
And you’ve got us all feelin’ all right
HARMONICA TURN AROUND
C Em/B Am C/G
5 -5 6 -6 6 -5 5 -5 5 4
F G11 C F/C CM7 G11
4 4 4 -5 5 4 4
VERSE
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 CM7 G11
But there’s some place that he’d rather be
C Em/B Am C/G
He says, “Bill, I believe this is killing me.”
F C/E D7 G
As his 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”
BRIDGE
C Em/B Am C/G
Now Paul is a real estate novelist
F C/E D7 G
Who never had time for a wife
C Em/B Am C/G
And he’s talkin’ with Davy, who’s still in the Navy
F G11 C F/C CM7 G11
And probably will be for life
HARMONICA TURN AROUND
C Em/B Am C/G
5 -5 6 -6 6 -5 5 -5 5 4
F G11 C F/C CM7 G11
4 4 4 -5 5 4 4
C Em/B Am C/G
And the waitress is practicing politics
F C/E D7 G
As the businessman slowly gets stoned
C Em/B Am C/G
Yes, they’re sharing a drink they call loneliness
F G11 C
But it’s better than drinkin’ alone
PIANO SOLO
HARMONICA BUILD UP
CHORUS
HARMONICA TURN AROUND
C Em/B Am C/G
5 -5 6 -6 6 -5 5 -5 5 4
F G11 C F/C CM7 G11
4 4 4 -5 5 4 4
VERSE
C Em/B Am C/G
It’s a pretty good crowd for a Saturday
F C/E D7 G
And the manager gives me a smile
C Em/B Am C/G
‘Cause he knows that it’s me they’ve been comin’ to see
F G11 C
To forget about their life for a while
C Em/B Am C/G
And the piano, it sounds like a carnival
F C/E D7 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 G11 C
And say, “Man, what are you doin’ here?”
BRIDGE
HARMONICA BUILDUP
CHORUS
HARMONICA TURN AROUND
END
Video Transcription
http://www.georgegoodman.com/music-lessons/billy-joel-piano-man-how-to-play-on-guitar-and-harmonica
Hey George here. Welcome to this video where I teach you how to play Billy Joel’s Piano Man on guitar and harmonica.
OK, we’re going to start off by going through the guitar chords, picking pattern, the time signature which is a little different on this song from the classic rock song.
Then we’ll go through the harmonica and we’ll play through a verse/chorus of it and then wrap it all up.
First of all, let’s start off with the time signature. Your typical rock song is in 4/4 – 4 beats to the measure with a quarter note receiving a single beat.
Piano Man is in 3/4 which is more of a waltz feel – 1 2 3, 1 2 3. That kind of idea. Ok?
For the strumming pattern, I’m going to show you how to pick this. We’re going to play the bass with the thumb (on your strumming hand) and the chords with the first, second, and third fingers on the first, second and third strings.
It has a really prominent bass line. It starts in C so we play C with our thumb and then play the rest of the chord with our first, second, and third fingers. 1, 2, 3.
Then we go to Em with B in the bass playing the 5th string, 2nd fret with our thumb.
Then play Am, then C with G in the bass, then F, then C with E in the bass, then D7 to G.
That’s the first half of the verse/chorus.
http://www.georgegoodman.com/music-lessons/billy-joel-piano-man-how-to-play-on-guitar-and-harmonica
The second part of the verse starts in C again. Continue doing that same run down – C to Em/B to Am to C/G to F.
Now we’re going to play G11. Then we go to C F/C CM7 G11.
So those are the chords that will cover the progression for the harmonica solo as well as most of the verse and chorus.
The only other part of the song is the Bridge. It starts in Am playing A in the bass with your thumb. So we continue playing a bass line, bass pattern.
Next is Am with a G bass – Am/G. Now we’ll play D7 with an F# in the bass – D7/F#, and then F.
Then Am, Am/G, D7/F# and then to D7 with D in the bass. To G and we do G in this form because we are going to follow with G with F in the bass – G/F.
Then we’ll do C with E in the bass – C/E. Then we’re going to go to G7 with a D in the bass – G7/D. And then we’re back into it.
http://www.georgegoodman.com/music-lessons/billy-joel-piano-man-how-to-play-on-guitar-and-harmonica
Ok, so those are all the sections of the song. Let’s put the harmonica to it. We’re in the key of C and I’m using a C harmonica and I’ll put the tabs where you can see them:
http://www.georgegoodman.com/music-lessons/billy-joel-piano-man-how-to-play-on-guitar-and-harmonica.
Get the harp and holder at http://www.georgegoodman.com/georgesharpshop.
Let’s try to blow this one through – There will be a harmonica solo over the intro, first verse with harmonica, and then into the chorus and then we’ll finish that up.
Ok, so that’s Piano Man by Billy Joel, on guitar and harmonica. I hope you can make something out of that and put that excellent song together.
Really a classic song with the harmonica part.
So, I hope you enjoyed the video. Please leave a message, like it, send it to your facebook friends. All that good stuff. Spread it around.
Alright, cheers, have a great day, peace.
Love your vids John . I’ve really ramped up my harp playing and can sit in
with local bands. Thanks from Delaware. Ur a good instructor homey.
Thank you so much for this videos! Been playing guitar for a few years and
just bought a harmonica recently, had some troubles combining them two
until I stumbled over your channel, these are by far the best lessons on
YouTube! And also a very, very sweet selection of songs (this one is a
classic of course)!
Keep on doing your great work and thank you very much for these lessons! 🙂
As a reasonably accompished guitarist, I must say my first attempt to play
Piano Man concurrently on both guitar and harmonica did not go well. For
those who think it looks easy, I can say it is not. Lots of practicing
ahead for me. George – good job on the video!
Well done man.. gonna learn it for sure.. just not now.. too busy making
love to my beer.. 🙂
That was a great lesson. Very clearly explained. Thanks.
Thank you very much for a thorough but attainable version of this song.
Every year a very good friend of mine always ask us acoustic guitar and
fiddle players to play Piano man to which we have always replied that there
is no piano in this back yard.It is her 50th birthday this year and your
lesson makes me believe it’s possible .so off to practice I go.
Your video helped me out . My class and I are playing paino man for one of
our songs. Added a few extra inturments in there couldn’t of done it with
out this video
I enjoyed the video, nice lesson, I dont know to play the harmonica, but
I´ll will wistle instead =)
Thanks for taking the time for us beginners who enjoy playing the guitar on
our spare time.
Great way to show how to play this tune 🙂
Loving these lessons. Thank you! I was wandering if you could do a lesson
on Kenny Roger’s “Ruby!” I cant find any lessons for it!! Thanks again for
the lessons. Great tutor! 😀
George, that was great. You are an excellent teacher and musician. Thanks
for the video.
cheers mate, excellent
Thank You Sir. A perfect lesson…
Thanks mate! Good job!!!!! Now to have a crack at it myself 🙂
Exceptional teacher, so pleasant and helpful! Thank you.
THAT WAS MOST EXCELLENT !!! thank you so much i am going to do this song for a friend, i am a musician (as a hobby) so thank you so much.. i do not play the (harp) and i will probly do a version with guitar and piano :0) still.. loved this :0) thanks.. when i see it on guitar it helps me to transpose to piano .. :0) Thanks again..
thanks … that sounds great
Excelente
THANKS BEAUTIFUL
gracias exelente leccion.
BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVO….. What a great performance!
Great lesson, thanks
Thanx george You really got it, I was lazy for play that beautiful song but your tuto was great and you are great too. I’m from Colombia and I’m 48 and this make me feel alive and dream. I’ll try to click your page to watch and learn more, I play guitar alone in my home and in my bussiness where I sell the best colombian coffee. see it on facebook as “sweet coffee soacha”…
You’re great and very kind for taking the time to do this for free
Thank you very much 🙂
C/G, F
thanks man!! gerrreat instuctions
Thanks George, this will be my first song whit harmonica and guitar
Best Lesson in the internet
Once again George…
As a professional harp player who has performed this song numerous time on stage…it was always good to get your input.
I actually realized that I was missing a note on one of the licks. Because you tabbed it out and played it CORRECTLY… I now got ALL the solos correctly down!!!
Glad the video helped out. Hope to see you in performance one of these days, Al.
Cheers, George
Hey – this was awesome. Thanks so much, George! Psyched to play this tonight.
Hey Stan. You’re welcome and thank you.
Brilliant George ~ you have a great teaching style ~ made things simple for one of my favourite sing along songs
Keep up great work and thanks
Stan
You’re very welcome. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Great cover and excellent, clear tutorial. Thank you for this.
your reall y really good at the piano 🙂 keep it up
Ha. I hope you didn’t come looking for a piano tutorial and if you did I hope you got something out of the video in any case.
Thanks for commenting.
Cheers, George
Wery good george, my congratulations. Roger Spain.
Hi George, like your sence of humour….I meant a very GOOD tutorial ):):
Hi Peter. Thanks man. That’s a very comment.
Cheers, George
Hi George, this is a very tutorial, clear & well explained, nice man, keep rocking…regards, Pete
Thanks
Good job
That’s great. Hope it helped
Thanks a bunch for the nice bassline tutorial! Have been looking for a good one for quite some time! 😀
The trick, I find, is to get each part down so you don’t have to think about them too much when you’re trying to put it all together.
Good luck
Really a good lesson 😀 I had trouble with playing the guitar and the harmonica at the same time but I think I can do it with this song :p Well, with enough practicing of course :p thanks!
Right on. Thank you
simply exelent. thnx
bob dylan in the background :DDDD
You’re welcome.
Actually, you’re not the fist to ask for a Long May You Run lesson so I need to move that up the list.
Stay tuned
thanks for the lessons, i appreciate it, if you get the time, do you think you could do “long may you run” by neil young?
muchas gracias
muchas gracias de antemano!!!! bendiciones…
danke! es hat mir sehr geholfen.
Thanks. Really helpful video!
Thanks. I appreciate that
[..YouTube..] @AIfredENewman Thanks. I appreciate that
Finally, someone’s done it right. Smooth, polished, easy to follow. You Rock!
[..YouTube..] Finally, someone’s done it right. Smooth, polished, easy to follow. You Rock!
man incredible so fun to
thanks strait from the 256
[..YouTube..] man incredible so fun to
thanks strait from the 256
great work….thank for sharing…!
[..YouTube..] great work….thank for sharing…!
[..YouTube..] great work….thank for sharing…!
Excellent. Thank you.
[..YouTube..] @lhemeon Excellent. Thank you.
[..YouTube..] @lhemeon Excellent. Thank you.
Wow great stuff
[..YouTube..] Wow great stuff
[..YouTube..] Wow great stuff
really cool
[..YouTube..] really cool