This Is The Time
Chords
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15
Original
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1/36
Sound:
Step 1 / 36Position: 2
1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO open
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuning: Standard
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Capo: 1st fret
Play: E
Key: F
For original chords transpose +1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Intro]
[A [B/A [A [A
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|2---------2-----|4-----5-5-------|------2--2--4-7-|7--6--4-6-------|
G|2-------2-2-----|4-----6-6-------|----------------|----------------|
D|2-----2---2-----|4-----7-7---2---|------2--2--4-7-|7--5--4-5---2---|
A|0---------------|0-----0-0-------|0---------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
(triplets) (triplets)
[A [B/A [A [A
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------2-----|4-----5-5-------|---------2--4-7-|7--6--4-6---7---|
G|--------2-2-----|4-----6-6-------|----------------|----------------|
D|------2---2-----|4-----7-7---2---|------2--2--4-7-|7--5--4-5---7---|
A|0---------------|0-----0-0-------|0---------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
(triplets) (triplets)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHORDS
E-A-D-G-B-e
B/A x-0-4-4-4-x
D6 x-x-0-2-0-2
E/G# 4-x-2-1-0-0
G6 3-x-0-0-0-0
F#7sus4 2-4-4-4-2-0 or 2-4-2-4-2-2
F#7 2-4-4-3-2-0 or 2-4-2-3-2-2
Faug 1-3-x-2-2-1
F6 1-3-x-2-3-1
A/E 0-2-2-2-2-0
Cdim7 x-3-4-2-4-x
D#m7-5 x-x-1-2-2-2
Aadd9 x-0-2-4-2-0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Intro]
| A| B/A A| A| % |
| A| B/A A| A| % |
| C#m7| D6| E| % |
| C#m7| D6| E| % |
[Verse 1]
C#m7We walked on the Dbeach beside that Eold hotel
C#m7They're tearing it Ddown now, but it's Ejust as well
C#m7I haven't shown you Deverything a Eman can do
C#m7So stay with me Dbaby, I've got Eplans for you (bEreEaks)
[Chorus]
This is the E/G#time to reAmember
Cause it Dwill not last forEever
These are the E/G#days to hold Aon to
Cause we Dwon't, although we'll Ewant to
[Post-Chorus]
This is the Atime
G6But time is gonna F#7sus4changeF#7
Faug F6 F6[ Faug F6 F6]
You've given me the best of you
And now I need the A/Erest Eof Eyou
[Verse 2]
C#m7Did you know that beDfore you came inEto my life
C#m7It was some kind of Dmiracle that EI survived
C#m7Some day we will Dboth look back and Ehave to laugh
C#m7We lived through a Dlifetime and the Eaftermath (bEreEaks)
[Chorus]
This is the E/G#time to reAmember
Cause it Dwill not last forEever
These are the E/G#days to hold Aon to
Cause we Dwon't, although we'll Ewant to
[Post-Chorus]
This is the Atime
G6But time is gonna F#7sus4changeF#7
Faug F6 F6[ Faug F6 F6]
I know we've got to move somehow
But I don't want to A/Elose Eyou Enow
[Middle 8]
C#m7Sometimes it's so G#m7easy
To let a Aday slip on BbyCdim7
C#m7 G#m7| A| A B|
Without even seeing each other at all
C#m7But this is the G#m7time you'll turn back
And F#m7so will D#m7-5IG#7
C#m7 G#m7| Aadd9| % |
And those will be days you can never recall
[Interlude]
| C#m7| D6| E| % |
| C#m7| D6| E| % |
[Verse 3]
C#m7And so we emDbrace again beEhind the dunes
C#m7This beach is Dcold on winter Eafternoons
C#m7But holding you Dclose is like holding the Esummer sun
C#m7I'm warm from the Dmemory of Edays to come
[Chorus]
This is the E/G#time to reAmember
Cause it Dwill not last forEever
These are the E/G#days to hold Aon to
Cause we Dwon't, although we'll Ewant to
[Post-Chorus]
This is the Atime
G6But time is gonna F#7sus4changeF#7
Faug F6 F6[ Faug F6 F6]
You've given me the best of you
And now I need the A/Erest Eof Eyou
[Outro] solo
| C#m7| D6| E| % |
| C#m7| D6| E| % |
(repeat and fade)
All chords in this song (20)
The story behind the song
This song is a melancholy rock ballad, written from a perspective that feels tinged with doom. It's a wistful and melodic piece, showcasing a songwriting genius that resonates with a reflective mood. The song can evoke a sense of looking back, honoring moments and people from the past.
AI-written from these sources:This Is the Time (Billy Joel song) — Wikipedia ↗List of Billy Joel band members — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗
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Chord Book
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This Is The Time
by Billy Joel
Chords in this song · guitar
A
B/A
C#m7
D6
E
D
E/G#
G6
F#7sus4
F#7
Faug
F6
A/E
G#m7
B
Cdim7
F#m7
D#m7-5
G#7
Aadd9
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuning: Standard
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capo: 1st fret
Play: E
Key: F
For original chords transpose +1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Intro]
[A [B/A [A [A
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|2---------2-----|4-----5-5-------|------2--2--4-7-|7--6--4-6-------|
G|2-------2-2-----|4-----6-6-------|----------------|----------------|
D|2-----2---2-----|4-----7-7---2---|------2--2--4-7-|7--5--4-5---2---|
A|0---------------|0-----0-0-------|0---------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
(triplets) (triplets)
[A [B/A [A [A
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------2-----|4-----5-5-------|---------2--4-7-|7--6--4-6---7---|
G|--------2-2-----|4-----6-6-------|----------------|----------------|
D|------2---2-----|4-----7-7---2---|------2--2--4-7-|7--5--4-5---7---|
A|0---------------|0-----0-0-------|0---------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
(triplets) (triplets)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHORDS
E-A-D-G-B-e
B/A x-0-4-4-4-x
D6 x-x-0-2-0-2
E/G# 4-x-2-1-0-0
G6 3-x-0-0-0-0
F#7sus4 2-4-4-4-2-0 or 2-4-2-4-2-2
F#7 2-4-4-3-2-0 or 2-4-2-3-2-2
Faug 1-3-x-2-2-1
F6 1-3-x-2-3-1
A/E 0-2-2-2-2-0
Cdim7 x-3-4-2-4-x
D#m7-5 x-x-1-2-2-2
Aadd9 x-0-2-4-2-0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Intro]
A B/A A A
| | | | % |
A B/A A A
| | | | % |
C#m7 D6 E
| | | | % |
C#m7 D6 E
| | | | % |
[Verse 1]
C#m7 D E
We walked on the beach beside that old hotel
C#m7 D E
They're tearing it down now, but it's just as well
C#m7 D E
I haven't shown you everything a man can do
C#m7 D E E E
So stay with me baby, I've got plans for you (breaks)
[Chorus]
E/G# A
This is the time to remember
D E
Cause it will not last forever
E/G# A
These are the days to hold on to
D E
Cause we won't, although we'll want to
[Post-Chorus]
A
This is the time
G6 F#7sus4 F#7
But time is gonna change
Faug F6 F6 Faug F6 F6
[ ]
You've given me the best of you
A/E E E
And now I need the rest of you
[Verse 2]
C#m7 D E
Did you know that before you came into my life
C#m7 D E
It was some kind of miracle that I survived
C#m7 D E
Some day we will both look back and have to laugh
C#m7 D E E E
We lived through a lifetime and the aftermath (breaks)
[Chorus]
E/G# A
This is the time to remember
D E
Cause it will not last forever
E/G# A
These are the days to hold on to
D E
Cause we won't, although we'll want to
[Post-Chorus]
A
This is the time
G6 F#7sus4 F#7
But time is gonna change
Faug F6 F6 Faug F6 F6
[ ]
I know we've got to move somehow
A/E E E
But I don't want to lose you now
[Middle 8]
C#m7 G#m7
Sometimes it's so easy
A B Cdim7
To let a day slip on by
C#m7 G#m7 A A B
| | |
Without even seeing each other at all
C#m7 G#m7
But this is the time you'll turn back
F#m7 D#m7-5 G#7
And so will I
C#m7 G#m7 Aadd9
| | % |
And those will be days you can never recall
[Interlude]
C#m7 D6 E
| | | | % |
C#m7 D6 E
| | | | % |
[Verse 3]
C#m7 D E
And so we embrace again behind the dunes
C#m7 D E
This beach is cold on winter afternoons
C#m7 D E
But holding you close is like holding the summer sun
C#m7 D E
I'm warm from the memory of days to come
[Chorus]
E/G# A
This is the time to remember
D E
Cause it will not last forever
E/G# A
These are the days to hold on to
D E
Cause we won't, although we'll want to
[Post-Chorus]
A
This is the time
G6 F#7sus4 F#7
But time is gonna change
Faug F6 F6 Faug F6 F6
[ ]
You've given me the best of you
A/E E E
And now I need the rest of you
[Outro] solo
C#m7 D6 E
| | | | % |
C#m7 D6 E
| | | | % |
(repeat and fade)
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About This Is The Time Chords by Billy Joel
Learn how to play This Is The Time by Billy Joel with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “This Is The Time chords”, “This Is The Time guitar chords”, or “Billy Joel This Is The Time chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy This Is The Time chords and for experienced players who want accurate This Is The Time lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include E, F, A, B/A, B, G.
FAQ — This Is The Time by Billy Joel
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What key is "This Is The Time" in?
The chords for "This Is The Time" show the original chord names (including E, F, A, B/A, B, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.