The Ballad Of Billy The Kid

Chords0.10
Listen on
YouTubeSpotifyApple Music
15
Original
Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams
1/21
Sound:
123456789101112131415eBGDAE21OO1234
Step 1 / 21Position: 2
1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO open
The original song is in G but to get a version that sounds like Billy, I moved it to C.
These are the chord forms that I use.
Put the capo on fret 2 but only the first 5 strings, leave the 6th string (E) ring free. This simulates drop D
tuning but the sixth string still is in standard tune.
C/D
0320xx
Em7/D
0200xx
D
0002xx
Bm
224432
Bm7
224232
C
332010
A
002220
G
320001
A7sus
002030
F#m
244222
D7sus
000213
[Intro]
D Bm7 D C D Bm7 D C D A
e|---------0---2---5--5--2-----0--3-----0--2---5--5--5---5---2-------0------------|
B|-----3-------3---3-----3--3--1------3----3---------3-------3---3---1---3--2-----|
G|-----2------ 4---2-----2--2--0------2----2---------2-------2---2---0---2--2-----|
D|-----0-------4---4-----0--0--2------0----4---------4-------0---0---2---0--2-----|
A|-----0-------2---2-----0--0--3------0----2---------2-------0---0---3---0--0-----|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Verse]
D Bm C
From a town known as Wheeling, West Virginia,
D Bm C G A
rode a boy with a six gun in his hand
D Bm C G D
And his daring life of crime, made him a legend in his time
Em7 A7sus C/D Em7/D Em7/D D
East and west of the Rio Grande
[Verse]
D Bm C
Well, he started with a bank in Colorado,
D Bm C G A
in the pocket of his vest, a Colt he hid
D Bm C G D
And his age and his size, took the teller by surprise
Em7 A7sus C/D Em7/D Em7/D D
And the word spread of Billy the Kid
[Chorus]
G A Bm F#m
Well, he never traveled heavy, yes, he always rode alone
G G/A D7sus
And he soon put many older guns to shame
G A Bm F#m
And he never had a sweetheart, and he never had a home
G Asus4 A
But the cowboy and the rancher knew his name
[Verse]
D Bm C
Well, he robbed his way from Utah to Oklahoma,
D Bm C G A
and the law just could not seem to track him down
D Bm C
And it served his legend well, for the folks,
G D
they'd love to tell
Em7 A7sus C/D Em7/D Em7/D D
'Bout when Billy the Kid came to town
(Repeat Intro)
[Verse]
D Bm C
Well, one cold day a posse captured Billy,
D Bm C G A
and the judge said, "String 'im up for what he did!"
D Bm C G D
And the cowboys and their kin, like the sea came pourin' in
Em7 A7sus C/D Em7/D Em7/D D
To watch the hangin', of Billy the Kid
[Chorus]
G A Bm F#m
Well, he never traveled heavy, yes, he always rode alone
G G/A D7sus
And he soon put many older guns to shame
G A Bm F#m
And he never had a sweetheart, but he finally found a home
G Asus4 A
Underneath the boothill grave that bears his name
[Outro]
D Bm C
From a town known as Oyster Bay, Long Island,
D Bm C G A
rode a boy with a six pack in his hand
D Bm C G D
And his daring life of crime, made him a legend in his time
Em7 A7sus C/D Em7/D Em7/D D
East and west of the Rio Grande

The Ballad Of Billy The Kid chords and lyrics

Free chords for The Ballad Of Billy The Kid by Billy Joel. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

The original song is in G but to get a version that sounds like Billy, I moved it to C.
These are the chord forms that I use.
Put the capo on fret 2 but only the first 5 strings, leave the 6th string (E) ring free. This simulates drop D
tuning but the sixth string still is in standard tune.
C/D     0320xx
Em7/D   0200xx
D       0002xx
Bm      224432
Bm7     224232
C       332010
A       002220
G       320001
A7sus   002030
F#m     244222
D7sus   000213
[Verse]
[Verse]
[Chorus]
[Verse]
(Repeat Intro)
[Verse]
[Chorus]
[Outro]

The Ballad Of Billy The Kid Chords by Billy Joel

Learn how to play The Ballad Of Billy The Kid by Billy Joel with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Ballad Of Billy The Kid chords”, “The Ballad Of Billy The Kid guitar chords”, or “Billy Joel The Ballad Of Billy The Kid 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 The Ballad Of Billy The Kid chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Ballad Of Billy The Kid lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, C, E, D, C/D, Em7/D.

Frequently asked questions about The Ballad Of Billy The Kid

How do I play "The Ballad Of Billy The Kid" by Billy Joel on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The Ballad Of Billy The Kid" 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 "The Ballad Of Billy The Kid" by Billy Joel free?

Yes. The chords for "The Ballad Of Billy The Kid" by Billy Joel are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "The Ballad Of Billy The Kid" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Ballad Of Billy The Kid"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "The Ballad Of Billy The Kid" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "The Ballad Of Billy The Kid" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Ballad Of Billy The Kid" 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 "The Ballad Of Billy The Kid" in?

The chords for "The Ballad Of Billy The Kid" show the original chord names (including G, C, E, D, C/D, Em7/D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.