Zanzibar chords by
Billy Joel (Official Version)

1978Rock368 views

Simplified

Original

Key: A minorDifficulty: Advanced

Intro 1

Gaug

Eaug

Am9

Verse 1
Am9 Am9 
 
F9 F9 
 
Ali dances and the audience applauds
Am9 Am9 
 
Though he's bathed in sweat
Bbmaj9 Bbmaj9 
 
he hasn't lost his style
C C 
 
F F 
 
Ali don't you go downtown
C C 
 
Am Am 
 
You gave away another round
Bm7b5 Bm7b5 
 
Eaug Eaug 
 
for free
Am9 Am9 
 
Me, I'm just another

Verse 2
F9 F9 
 
face at Zanzibar
Am9 Am9 
 
But the wait  ress always serves
Bbmaj9 Bbmaj9 
 
a secret smile
C C 
 
F F 
 
She's waiting out in Shantytown
E7 E7 
 
She's gonna pull
Am Am 
 
Bm7b5 Bm7b5 
 
G7 G7 
 
the curtains down for me,

Chorus 1
C C 
 
Gaug Gaug 
 
Cm7 Cm7 
 
(for me) I've   got the old man's car
Fm9 Fm9 
 
Bb Bb 
 
I've  got a jazz guitar
Ebmaj9 Ebmaj9 
 
Abmaj7 Abmaj7 
 
Gm7 Gm7 
 
Fm7 Fm7 
 
I've      got a tab at Zan       zi    bar
Gm7 Gm7 
 
Abmaj7 Abmaj7 
 
Ab7#11 Ab7#11 
 
D D 
 
Tonight, that's where     I'll be
Gaug Gaug 
 
B7 B7 
 
Eaug Eaug 
 
I'll be
Am9 Am9 
 
Am9 Am9 
 
E7b9 E7b9

Verse 3
Am9 Am9 
 
Rose, he knows
F9 F9 
 
he's such a credit to the game
Am9 Am9 
 
But the Yan   kees grab the headlines
Bbmaj9 Bbmaj9 
 
every time
C C 
 
F F 
 
Melodrama's so much fun
C C 
 
Am Am 
 
In black and white for everyone
Bm7b5 Bm7b5 
 
Eaug Eaug 
 
to see
Am9 Am9 
 
Me, I'm trying just to get

Verse 4
F9 F9 
 
to second base
Am9 Am9 
 
Bbmaj9 Bbmaj9 
 
And I'd steal it if she only gave the sign
C C 
 
F F 
 
She's gonna give the go ahead
E7 E7 
 
Am Am 
 
The inning isn't over yet
Bm7b5 Bm7b5 
 
G7 G7 
 
for me,

Chorus 2
C C 
 
Gaug Gaug 
 
Cm7 Cm7 
 
(for me) I've   got the old man's car
Fm9 Fm9 
 
Bb Bb 
 
I've  got a jazz guitar
Ebmaj9 Ebmaj9 
 
Abmaj7 Abmaj7 
 
Gm7 Gm7 
 
Fm7 Fm7 
 
I've      got a tab at Zan       zi    bar
Gm7 Gm7 
 
Abmaj7 Abmaj7 
 
Ab7#11 Ab7#11 
 
D D 
 
Tonight that's where     I'll be
Gaug Gaug 
 
I'll be

Interlude 1

C#/F

Bb/D

G/B

E/G#

C#/F

Em6

B/D#

Bm/D

A/C#

Am/C

B7b9

E7b9

Solo 1

Am9

Bbmaj9

Cmaj7

E7/G#

Am9

Bm7b5

E7#9

Am9

Verse 5
Am9 Am9 
 
Tell the waitress
F9 F9 
 
I'll come back to Zanzibar
Am9 Am9 
 
Bbmaj9 Bbmaj9 
 
I'll be hi    ding in the darkness with my beer
C C 
 
F F 
 
She's waiting out in Shantytown
E7 E7 
 
Am Am 
 
She's gonna pull the curtains down
Bm7b5 Bm7b5 
 
G7 G7 
 
for me,

Chorus 3
C C 
 
Gaug Gaug 
 
Cm7 Cm7 
 
(for me) I've   got the old man's car
Fm9 Fm9 
 
Bb Bb 
 
And I've  got a jazz guitar
Ebmaj9 Ebmaj9 
 
Abmaj7 Abmaj7 
 
Gm7 Gm7 
 
Fm7 Fm7 
 
I've      got a tab at Zan       zi    bar
Gm7 Gm7 
 
Abmaj7 Abmaj7 
 
Ab7#11 Ab7#11 
 
D D 
 
Tonight that's where     I'll be
Gaug Gaug 
 
Am9 Am9 
 
Am9 Am9 
 
I'll be

Outro 1

Am9

Bbmaj9

Am9

Bbmaj9

[Repeat and fade]

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TunerE A D G B E

ChordsGaug B7 Eaug Am9 F9...

Chords

Gaug
B7
Eaug
Am9
F9
Bbmaj9
C
F
Am
Bm7b5
E7
G7
Cm7
Fm9
Bb
Ebmaj9
Abmaj7
Gm7
Fm7
Ab7#11
D
E7b9
A
C#/F
Bb/D
G/B
E/G#
Em6
B/D#
Bm/D
A/C#
Am/C
B7b9
Cmaj7
E7/G#
E7#9

Finger positions, low to high (E A D G B e). 0 is open, x is muted.

Gaug: 3-x-1-0-0-3
B7: x-2-1-2-0-2
Eaug: x-7-6-5-5-x
Am9: x-0-5-5-0-0
F9: 1-3-1-2-1-3
Bbmaj9: x-1-0-2-1-x
C: x-3-2-0-1-0
F: x-3-3-2-1-x
Am: x-0-2-2-1-0
Bm7b5: x-2-3-2-3-x
E7: 0-2-0-1-0-0
G7: 3-2-0-0-0-1
Cm7: x-3-5-3-4-x
Fm9: 1-3-1-1-1-3
Bb: x-1-3-3-3-x
Ebmaj9: x-6-5-7-6-x
Abmaj7: 4-x-5-5-4-x
Gm7: 3-5-3-3-3-3
Fm7: 1-3-1-1-1-1
Ab7#11: 4-x-4-5-3-x
D: x-x-0-2-3-2
E7b9: x-x-2-1-3-1
A: x-0-2-2-2-0
C#/F: x-x-3-1-2-1
Bb/D: x-5-3-3-6-x
G/B: x-2-0-0-0-3
E/G#: 4-x-2-4-0-0
Em6: 0-2-2-0-2-0
B/D#: x-6-4-4-7-x
Bm/D: x-x-0-4-3-2
A/C#: x-4-2-2-5-x
Am/C: x-3-2-2-5-x
B7b9: x-2-1-2-1-x
Cmaj7: x-3-2-0-0-0
E7/G#: 4-x-2-4-3-x
E7#9: x-x-2-1-3-3

Capo: No capo

Transpose: 0

Accurately transcribed by the GuitarTuna team.

F is one of the chords beginners ask about the most. A short walkthrough on how to fret it cleanly and switch in and out of it. Learn the F chord

Barre chords ask a lot of the fretting hand. The barre course walks through hand position, pressure, and the cleanest way to land each shape. Practice barre chords

This is the definitive original version of Zanzibar by Billy Joel, transcribed exactly as it was recorded in the studio. Unlike our simplified arrangement, this chart preserves the precise chord voicings and progressions in the original key of A minor. It is designed for experienced players looking to reproduce the full sonic intent and artistic expression of Billy Joel.

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