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Close To The Borderline

Chords

4.415 votes

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Font15

KeyOriginal

Chords

Scroll

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/10

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 10Position: 2

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

Chords:
   A5x022xx
   C5x355xx
   G5355xxx
   D5x577xx
E5   022xxx  or  x799xx
  F#m244222
  C#7x46464
  C#5x466xx
You have to listen to the recording to get the timing.  Here are the chords I heard...
Intro
Drum beat
Guitar (twice)
     A5        A5    A5      A5    D5        D5( G     D   G  D)= "Riff"
e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------8p7---8p7-----|
G|--2---2-------2---2------7---7------7p7---7p7-----|
D|--2---2-------2---2------7---7------9p7---9p7-----|
A|--0---0-------0---0------5---5--------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|
A5Blackout, heatwave, .44 caliber C5homicide 
                                    G5                      D5( G   D   G  D)
The bums drop dead and dogs go mad in packs on the West Side 
A5Young girl standing on a ledge looks like another C5suicide 
                                                         G5                  D5( G   D   G  D)
She wants to hit those bricks 'Cause the news at six gotta stick to a deadline
While the E5millionaires hide in F#mBeekman Place The D5bag ladies throw their bones in my A5face 
I get E5attacked by a kid with F#mstereo sound I D5don't want to hear it but he won't turn it A5down 
E5Life is tough but it's C#7just enough To F#mhold back the E5tears until it's D5closing time 
A5I survived, ID5'm still alive 
                E5(hold)             A5    A5   A5    A5   D5    D5( G   D   G  D)
But I'm getting close to the borderline                Close to the borderline 
 A5    A5   A5    A5   D5    D5( G   D   G  D)
A5A buck three eighty Won't buy you much lately on the C5street these days 
                                                           G5                      D5( G   D   G  D)
And when you can't get gas You know you can't drive fast anymore on the parkways 
A5Rich man, poor man, either way American C5shoved into the lost and found 
                                                    G5                      D5( G   D   G  D)
The no nukes yell we're gonna all go to hell With the next big meltdown 
I got E5remote control and a F#mcolor T.V. I D5don't change channels so they must change A5me 
I got E5real close friends that will F#mget me high They D5don't know how to talk and they ain't gonna A5try
E5I shouldn't bitch, I C#7shouldn't cry I'd F#mstart a revoE5lution but I D5don't have time 
A5I don't know why I'm D5still a nice guy 
                E5(hold)                 A5    A5   A5    A5   D5    D5( G   D   G  D)
But I'm getting close to the borderline     Close to the borderline 
 A5    A5   A5    A5   D5    D5( G   D   G  D)
C#5I thought I'd sacrifice so D5many things 
C#5I thought I'd throw them all E5away 
C#5I didn't think I needed F#manythinE5g 
Ah But you D5can't afford to squander what you're E5not prepared to pay 
[Guitar Solo]
   A5    C5    G5    D5( G   D   G  D)       A5    C5    G5    D5( G   D   G  D)
E5I need a doctor for my F#mpressure pills D5I need a lawyer for my medical A5bills 
E5I need a banker to fiF#mnance my home D5I need security to back my loan A5  
E5It isn't new what I'm C#7going through But F#meverybody E5knows you got to D5break sometime 
A5Another night I fought the D5good fight 
                E5(hold)                 A5    A5   A5    A5   D5    D5( G   D   G  D)
But I'm getting closer to the borderline                   Closer to the borderline 
 A5    A5   A5    A5   D5    D5( G   D   G  D)
 A5    A5   A5    A5   D5    D5( G   D   G  D)
 A5    A5   A5    A5   D5    D5( G   D   G  D)
(Fade)

All chords in this song (10)

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Close To The Borderline

by Billy Joel

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

C#7

C#5

Chords:

x022xx

x355xx

355xxx

x577xx

E5 022xxx or x799xx

F#m

244222

C#7

x46464

C#5

x466xx

You have to listen to the recording to get the timing. Here are the chords I heard...

Intro

Drum beat

Guitar (twice)

A5 A5 A5 A5 D5 D5 G D G D

( )= "Riff"

e|--------------------------------------------------|

B|------------------------------------8p7---8p7-----|

G|--2---2-------2---2------7---7------7p7---7p7-----|

D|--2---2-------2---2------7---7------9p7---9p7-----|

A|--0---0-------0---0------5---5--------------------|

E|--------------------------------------------------|

A5 C5

Blackout, heatwave, .44 caliber homicide

G5 D5 G D G D

( )

The bums drop dead and dogs go mad in packs on the West Side

A5 C5

Young girl standing on a ledge looks like another suicide

G5 D5 G D G D

( )

She wants to hit those bricks 'Cause the news at six gotta stick to a deadline

E5 F#m D5 A5

While the millionaires hide in Beekman Place The bag ladies throw their bones in my face

E5 F#m D5 A5

I get attacked by a kid with stereo sound I don't want to hear it but he won't turn it down

E5 C#7 F#m E5 D5

Life is tough but it's just enough To hold back the tears until it's closing time

A5 D5

I survived, I'm still alive

A5 A5 A5 A5 D5 D5 G D G D

E5(hold) ( )

But I'm getting close to the borderline Close to the borderline

A5 A5 A5 A5 D5 D5 G D G D

( )

A5 C5

A buck three eighty Won't buy you much lately on the street these days

G5 D5 G D G D

( )

And when you can't get gas You know you can't drive fast anymore on the parkways

A5 C5

Rich man, poor man, either way American shoved into the lost and found

G5 D5 G D G D

( )

The no nukes yell we're gonna all go to hell With the next big meltdown

E5 F#m D5 A5

I got remote control and a color T.V. I don't change channels so they must change me

E5 F#m D5 A5

I got real close friends that will get me high They don't know how to talk and they ain't gonna try

E5 C#7 F#m E5 D5

I shouldn't bitch, I shouldn't cry I'd start a revolution but I don't have time

A5 D5

I don't know why I'm still a nice guy

A5 A5 A5 A5 D5 D5 G D G D

E5(hold) ( )

But I'm getting close to the borderline Close to the borderline

A5 A5 A5 A5 D5 D5 G D G D

( )

C#5 D5

I thought I'd sacrifice so many things

C#5 E5

I thought I'd throw them all away

C#5 F#m E5

I didn't think I needed anything

D5 E5

Ah But you can't afford to squander what you're not prepared to pay

[Guitar Solo]

A5 C5 G5 D5 G D G D A5 C5 G5 D5 G D G D

( ) ( )

E5 F#m D5 A5

I need a doctor for my pressure pills I need a lawyer for my medical bills

E5 F#m D5 A5

I need a banker to finance my home I need security to back my loan

E5 C#7 F#m E5 D5

It isn't new what I'm going through But everybody knows you got to break sometime

A5 D5

Another night I fought the good fight

A5 A5 A5 A5 D5 D5 G D G D

E5(hold) ( )

But I'm getting closer to the borderline Closer to the borderline

A5 A5 A5 A5 D5 D5 G D G D

( )

A5 A5 A5 A5 D5 D5 G D G D

( )

A5 A5 A5 A5 D5 D5 G D G D

( )

(Fade)

About Close To The Borderline Chords by Billy Joel

Learn how to play Close To The Borderline by Billy Joel with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Close To The Borderline chords”, “Close To The Borderline guitar chords”, or “Billy Joel Close To The Borderline 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 Close To The Borderline chords and for experienced players who want accurate Close To The Borderline lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A5, C5, G5, D5, F#m, C#7.

FAQ — Close To The Borderline by Billy Joel

How do I play "Close To The Borderline" by Billy Joel on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Close To The Borderline" by Billy Joel on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Close To The Borderline" by Billy Joel free?

Yes. The chords for "Close To The Borderline" by Billy Joel are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Close To The Borderline" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Close To The Borderline" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Close To The Borderline"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Close To The Borderline" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Close To The Borderline" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Close To The Borderline" by Billy Joel with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Billy Joel below.

What key is "Close To The Borderline" in?

The chords for "Close To The Borderline" show the original chord names (including A5, C5, G5, D5, F#m, C#7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.