What key is "American Pie" in?

"American Pie" by Don McLean is in the key of G with a tempo of 120 BPM. Difficulty: medium.

Is "American Pie" easy to play on piano?

This arrangement is rated medium. It requires comfort with chord shapes and basic hand independence. Expect 1-2 weeks of regular practice for a confident performance.

Can I play "American Pie" without reading sheet music?

Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.

What chords are used in "American Pie"?

This arrangement of "American Pie" uses 10 chords: A, A7, Am, Am7, C, D, D7, Em, +2 more.

How long does it take to learn "American Pie" on piano?

2–4 weeks of consistent practice (20–30 min/day) for an intermediate player. Drill the tricky passages in isolation first.

What other songs by Don McLean can I play here?

Try "CROSSROADS", "EMPTY CHAIRS", "CASTLES IN THE AIR". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.

Lyrics

A (G)long, (D)long (Em7)time a go (Am)I can still re (C)mem ber how that (Em)mu sic used to make me (D)smile.

And (G)I knew if (D)I had (Em7)my chance that (Am)I could make those (C)peo ple dance and (Em)may be they’d be (C)hap py for a (D)while.

But Feb ru ar y (Am)made me shiv er (Em)with ev ’ry pa per (Am)I’d de liv er.

(C)Bad news (G)on the (Am)door step, I (C)could n’t take one (D)more step.

I (G)can’t re mem ber if I (Em)cried when I (Am7)read a bout his (D)wid owed bride.

(G)Some thing (D)touched me (Em)deep in side the (C)day the (D7)mu sic (C)died.

So (G)bye (C)bye Miss A (G)mer i can (D)Pie drove my (G)Chev y to the (C)lev ee but the (G)lev ee was dry.

Them (G)good ole boys were drink in’ (G)whis key and (D)rye, sing in’ (Em)this ’ll be the day that I (A7)die.

(Em)This ’ll be the day that I (D7)die.

Did you write the (Am)book of love and do you have faith in (Am)God a bove?

If the Bi ble tells you so.

Now do (G)you be (D)lieve in (Em)rock and roll?

Can (Am7)mu sic save your (C)mor tal soul and can you teach me (A7)how to dance

(D)real slow?

Well, I (Em)know that you’re in (D)love with him ’cause I saw you danc in’ (D)in the gym.

You (C)both kicked (G)off your (A)shoes.

Man, I (C)dig those rhy thm and (D7)blues.

I was a (G)lone ly (D)teen age (Em)bronc in’ buck with a (Am)pink car na tion and a (C)pick up truck.

But (G)I knew (D)I was out of luck the day

the mu

sic died.

I start ed (D7)sing ing (G)bye (C)bye Miss A (G)mer i can (D)Pie drove my (G)Chev y to the (C)lev ee but the (G)lev ee was dry.

Them (G)good ole boys were drink in’ (G)whis key and (D)rye, sing in’ (Em)this ’ll be the day that I (A7)die.

(Em)This ’ll be the day that I (D7)die.

Did you write the (Am)book of love and do you have faith in (Am)God a bove?

If the Bi ble tells you so.

Now do (G)you be (D)lieve in (Em)rock and roll?

Can (Am7)mu sic save your (C)mor tal soul and can you teach me (A7)how to dance

(D)real slow?

Well, I (Em)know that you’re in (D)love with him ’cause I saw you danc in’ (D)in the gym.

You (C)both kicked (G)off your (A)shoes.

Man, I (C)dig those rhy thm and (D7)blues.

I was a (G)lone ly (D)teen age (Em)bronc in’ buck with a (Am)pink car na tion and a (C)pick up truck.

But (G)I knew (D)I was out of luck the day

the mu

sic died.

I start ed (D7)sing ing

He was (D7)sing in’ (G)bye (C)bye Miss A (G)mer i can (D)Pie drove my (G)Chev y to the (C)lev ee but the (G)lev ee was (D)dry.

Them (G)good ole boys were drink in’ (G)whis key and (D)rye, sing in’ (Em)this ’ll be the day that I (A7)die.

(Em)This ’ll be the day that I (D7)die.

I met a (D)girl who (Em7)sang the blues and (Am)I asked her for some (C)hap py news, but (Em)she just smiled and (D)turned a way.

(G)I went (D)down to the (Em)sa cred store where I (Am)heard the (G)mu sic (C)years be fore, but the (Em)man there said the (C)mu sic would n’t (D)play.

And (Em)in the streets the (Am)chil dren screamed, the (Em)lov ers cried and the (Am)po ets dreamed.

But (C)not a (G)word was (Am)spo ken, the (C)church bells all were (D)bro ken.

And the (G)three men (D)I ad (Em)mire (G)most, the (C)Fa ther, Son and the (D7)Ho ly Ghost, they (G)caught the (D)last train (Em)for the coast the (C)day the (Am7)mu (D7)sic (G)died.

And they were (D7)sing in’ (C)this ’ll be the day that I die.

American Pie by Don McLean

6 people have learned this song

Easy piano arrangement in the key of G at 120 BPM. Difficulty: medium. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

About “American Pie”

What key is "American Pie" in?: "American Pie" by Don McLean is in the key of G with a tempo of 120 BPM. Difficulty: medium.
Is "American Pie" easy to play on piano?: This arrangement is rated medium. It requires comfort with chord shapes and basic hand independence. Expect 1-2 weeks of regular practice for a confident performance.
Can I play "American Pie" without reading sheet music?: Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.
What chords are used in "American Pie"?: This arrangement of "American Pie" uses 10 chords: A, A7, Am, Am7, C, D, D7, Em, +2 more.
How long does it take to learn "American Pie" on piano?: 2–4 weeks of consistent practice (20–30 min/day) for an intermediate player. Drill the tricky passages in isolation first.
What other songs by Don McLean can I play here?: Try "CROSSROADS", "EMPTY CHAIRS", "CASTLES IN THE AIR". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.