The Ballad Of Billy The Kid original guitar chords by
Billy Joel

1973•Pop•465 views•

Key: G major•

Intro 1

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C/E

C/E

View detailed C/E chord diagram in our app.

D

D

View detailed D chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

G/B

G/B

View detailed G/B chord diagram in our app.

Am7

Am7

View detailed Am7 chord diagram in our app.

C/D

C/D

View detailed C/D chord diagram in our app.

Interlude 1

F/G

F/G

View detailed F/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

F/G

F/G

View detailed F/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Verse 1

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

From a town known as Wheeling,

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

West Virginia

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C/E

C/E

View detailed C/E chord diagram in our app.

D

D

View detailed D chord diagram in our app.

Rode a boy with a six- gun in his hand

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

And his daring life of crime

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Made him a legend in his time

G/B

G/B

View detailed G/B chord diagram in our app.

Am7

Am7

View detailed Am7 chord diagram in our app.

C/D

C/D

View detailed C/D chord diagram in our app.

East and west of the Rio Grande

F/G

F/G

View detailed F/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

F/G

F/G

View detailed F/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Verse 2

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

Well, he started with a bank in Colorado

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C/E

C/E

View detailed C/E chord diagram in our app.

D

D

View detailed D chord diagram in our app.

In the pocket of his vest, a Colt he hid

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

And his age and his size

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Took the teller by surprise

G/B

G/B

View detailed G/B chord diagram in our app.

Am7

Am7

View detailed Am7 chord diagram in our app.

C/D

C/D

View detailed C/D chord diagram in our app.

And the word spread of Billy the kid

F/G

F/G

View detailed F/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Chorus 1

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

D

D

View detailed D chord diagram in our app.

Well, he never travelled heavy

Em

Em

View detailed Em chord diagram in our app.

Bm

Bm

View detailed Bm chord diagram in our app.

Yes, he always rode alone

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Dsus4

Dsus4

View detailed Dsus4 chord diagram in our app.

F/G

F/G

View detailed F/G chord diagram in our app.

And he soon put many older guns to shame

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

D

D

View detailed D chord diagram in our app.

And he never had a sweetheart

Em

Em

View detailed Em chord diagram in our app.

Bm

Bm

View detailed Bm chord diagram in our app.

And he never had a home

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

But the cowboy and the rancher

D7sus4

D7sus4

View detailed D7sus4 chord diagram in our app.

D7

D7

View detailed D7 chord diagram in our app.

knew his name

Verse 3

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

Well, he robbed his way from Utah

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

to Oklahoma

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

And the largest could not seem

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C/E

C/E

View detailed C/E chord diagram in our app.

D

D

View detailed D chord diagram in our app.

to track him down

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

And it served his legend well

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

G/B

G/B

View detailed G/B chord diagram in our app.

For the folks they loved to tell about

Am7

Am7

View detailed Am7 chord diagram in our app.

C/D

C/D

View detailed C/D chord diagram in our app.

When Billy the kid came to town

F/G

F/G

View detailed F/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

F/G

F/G

View detailed F/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Interlude 2

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

C/E

C/E

View detailed C/E chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Fmaj7

Fmaj7

View detailed Fmaj7 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

Dm9

Dm9

View detailed Dm9 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

C/E

C/E

View detailed C/E chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Fmaj7

Fmaj7

View detailed Fmaj7 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

Dm9

Dm9

View detailed Dm9 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

C/E

C/E

View detailed C/E chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Fmaj7

Fmaj7

View detailed Fmaj7 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

Dm9

Dm9

View detailed Dm9 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

C/E

C/E

View detailed C/E chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Fmaj7

Fmaj7

View detailed Fmaj7 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

Dm9

Dm9

View detailed Dm9 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Bb

Bb

View detailed Bb chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Bb

Bb

View detailed Bb chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Bb

Bb

View detailed Bb chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Bb

Bb

View detailed Bb chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

Dm9

Dm9

View detailed Dm9 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Interlude 3

F/G

F/G

View detailed F/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

F/G

F/G

View detailed F/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Verse 4

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

Well, one cold day a posse captured Billy

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

And the judge said

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C/E

C/E

View detailed C/E chord diagram in our app.

D

D

View detailed D chord diagram in our app.

"String him up for what he did"

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

And the cowboys and their kin

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Like the sea, came pouring in

G/B

G/B

View detailed G/B chord diagram in our app.

Am7

Am7

View detailed Am7 chord diagram in our app.

C/D

C/D

View detailed C/D chord diagram in our app.

To watch the hanging

of Billy the kid

F/G

F/G

View detailed F/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

F/G

F/G

View detailed F/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Chorus 2

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

D

D

View detailed D chord diagram in our app.

Well, he never travelled heavy

Em

Em

View detailed Em chord diagram in our app.

Bm

Bm

View detailed Bm chord diagram in our app.

Yes, he always rode alone

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Dsus4

Dsus4

View detailed Dsus4 chord diagram in our app.

F/G

F/G

View detailed F/G chord diagram in our app.

And he soon put many older guns to shame

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

D

D

View detailed D chord diagram in our app.

And he never had a sweetheart

Em

Em

View detailed Em chord diagram in our app.

Bm

Bm

View detailed Bm chord diagram in our app.

But he finally found a home

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Underneath the Boot Hill grave

D7sus4

D7sus4

View detailed D7sus4 chord diagram in our app.

D7

D7

View detailed D7 chord diagram in our app.

that bears his name

Verse 5

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

From a town known as Oyster Bay

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

Long Island

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C/E

C/E

View detailed C/E chord diagram in our app.

D

D

View detailed D chord diagram in our app.

Rode a boy with a six- pack in his hand

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Em7

Em7

View detailed Em7 chord diagram in our app.

And his daring life of crime

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Made him a legend in his time

G/B

G/B

View detailed G/B chord diagram in our app.

Am7

Am7

View detailed Am7 chord diagram in our app.

C/D

C/D

View detailed C/D chord diagram in our app.

East and west of the Rio Grande

F/G

F/G

View detailed F/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

F/G

F/G

View detailed F/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

C/G

C/G

View detailed C/G chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

Outro 1

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

C/E

C/E

View detailed C/E chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Fmaj7

Fmaj7

View detailed Fmaj7 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

Dm9

Dm9

View detailed Dm9 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

C/E

C/E

View detailed C/E chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Fmaj7

Fmaj7

View detailed Fmaj7 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

Dm9

Dm9

View detailed Dm9 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

C/E

C/E

View detailed C/E chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Fmaj7

Fmaj7

View detailed Fmaj7 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

Dm9

Dm9

View detailed Dm9 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

C/E

C/E

View detailed C/E chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Fmaj7

Fmaj7

View detailed Fmaj7 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

Dm9

Dm9

View detailed Dm9 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Bb

Bb

View detailed Bb chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Bb

Bb

View detailed Bb chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Bb

Bb

View detailed Bb chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

Bb

Bb

View detailed Bb chord diagram in our app.

F

F

View detailed F chord diagram in our app.

Dm9

Dm9

View detailed Dm9 chord diagram in our app.

G

G

View detailed G chord diagram in our app.

C

C

View detailed C chord diagram in our app.

How did you like the song?

You need to log in to leave a rating.

An acoustic guitar head with tuning pegs

Tuning:Standard Open Tuner

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 7 Strings

B ₁

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 12 stringStandard

E ₃

E ₂

A ₃

A ₂

D ₄

D ₃

G ₄

G ₃

B ₃

B ₃

E ₄

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 6 stringPower

Guitar Tuner 6 stringOpen

Guitar Tuner 6 stringExtras

G ₄

C ₄

E ₄

A ₄

CavaquinhoStandard

D ₄

G ₄

B ₄

D ₅

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

Bass Tuner 5 Strings

B ₀

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

C ₂

G ₂

D ₃

A ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

G ₃

G ₃

D ₄

D ₄

A ₄

A ₄

E ₅

E ₅

Balalaika Tuner

E ₄

E ₄

A ₄

G ₄

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

D ₄

Banjo Tuner 4 Strings

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

An acoustic guitar head with tuning pegs

Tuning:Standard Open Tuner

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 7 Strings

B ₁

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 12 stringStandard

E ₃

E ₂

A ₃

A ₂

D ₄

D ₃

G ₄

G ₃

B ₃

B ₃

E ₄

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 6 stringPower

Guitar Tuner 6 stringOpen

Guitar Tuner 6 stringExtras

G ₄

C ₄

E ₄

A ₄

CavaquinhoStandard

D ₄

G ₄

B ₄

D ₅

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

Bass Tuner 5 Strings

B ₀

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

C ₂

G ₂

D ₃

A ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

G ₃

G ₃

D ₄

D ₄

A ₄

A ₄

E ₅

E ₅

Balalaika Tuner

E ₄

E ₄

A ₄

G ₄

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

D ₄

Banjo Tuner 4 Strings

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

Chords

G
Em7
F
C/E
D
C
G/B
Am7
C/D
F/G
C/G
Em
Bm
Dsus4
D7sus4
D7
Fmaj7
Dm9
Bb

Capo: 0

Transpose: 0

0

Autoscroll20%

More songs by Billy Joel

Discover chords for more songs to play

Piano Man

Just The Way You Are

Vienna

She's Always A Woman

Uptown Girl

New York State Of Mind

Honesty

Related songs

Discover chords for more songs to play

Piano Man

Billy Joel

Let It Be

The Beatles

All Of Me

John Legend

American Pie

Don McLean

Drivers License

Olivia Rodrigo

Ella

Junior H

Just The Way You Are

Billy Joel

Popular chords globally

Most played chords & tabs across all users

1

Perfect

Ed Sheeran

2

Creep

Radiohead

3

Yellow

Coldplay

4

Boulevard Of Broken Dreams

Green Day

5

Zombie

The Cranberries

6

Wonderwall

Oasis

7

Knockin' On Heaven's Door

Bob Dylan

Recently added

Recently added chords & tabs

Love Me, I'm A Liberal

Phil Ochs

The Bitch Song

Bowling For Soup

J'ai oublié de vivre

Vianney

Exxus

Glass Animals

Wicked Game

James Vincent McMorrow

The Shape Of Your Love

Colton Dixon

Slow Show

The National

Frequently asked questions

The original key of The Ballad Of Billy The Kid by Billy Joel is G major.

The primary chords used in The Ballad Of Billy The Kid are G, Em, F, C, D, G/B.

No capo is required for this song.

Yes, this version uses open chords like G, Em, F, C, making it a great song for beginner guitarists.

If the simplified chords are too easy, you can visit the original chords page for a more advanced arrangement.

The tempo of The Ballad Of Billy The Kid is approximately 84 beats per minute.

You can easily change the key of The Ballad Of Billy The Kid using our Transpose button located in the toolbar. This will automatically update all chord diagrams on the page to match your new key.

Yes! Click the Print icon to generate a clean, one-page version of the chords and lyrics for The Ballad Of Billy The Kid. This is perfect for practicing offline or adding to a physical songbook.

Yes, we have integrated a Mini-Tuner directly on this page. Use it to quickly check your string pitch (Standard Tuning: E A D G B E) before you start playing along with Billy Joel.

Absolutely. Click the Save or Heart icon to add The Ballad Of Billy The Kid to your account. You can access all your saved songs under My Library at any time.

You can view the full chord sheet and lyrics for The Ballad Of Billy The Kid by Billy Joel on this page for free. We provide high-quality, verified chords to help you start playing immediately.