What key is "City Of New Orleans" in?

"City Of New Orleans" by Arlo Guthrie is in the key of G with a tempo of 100 BPM. Difficulty: medium.

Is "City Of New Orleans" 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 "City Of New Orleans" 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 "City Of New Orleans"?

This arrangement of "City Of New Orleans" uses 12 chords: A, A7, Am, Bb, Bm, C, D, D7, +4 more.

How long does it take to learn "City Of New Orleans" on piano?

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

Lyrics

Rid in’ on the (D)Cit y of New Or leans,

(Em)Il li nois Cen tral (C)Mon day morn in’ rail.

Fif teen cars and fif teen rest less rid ers,

three con (Em)duc tors

and (D)twen ty five sacks of mail;

All a (Em)long the south bound Od y ssey,

the (Bm)train pulls out of Kan ka kee

and (D)rolls a long the hous es, farms and (A)fields.

(Em)Pass in’ towns that have no name and (Bm)freight yards full of old black men, and the (D)grave yards of the (D7)rust ed au to mo biles.

(C)Good morn

A A (D7)mer i ca, how are you?

Say (Em)don’t you know me, (C)I’m your na tive (G)son.

(D7)I’m

(D9)the (G)train they call the (D)Cit y of New (Em)Or leans.

I’ll be (Bb)gone five (C)hun dred (D)miles when the (D9)day is done.

Deal in’ Rid in’ on the (D)Cit y of New Or leans,

(Em)Il li nois Cen tral (C)Mon day morn in’ rail.

Fif teen cars and fif teen rest less rid ers,

three con (Em)duc tors

and (D)twen ty five sacks of mail;

All a (Em)long the south bound Od y ssey, the (Bm)train pulls out of Kan ka kee and (D)rolls a long the hous es, farms and (A)fields.

(Em)Pass in’ towns that have no name and (Bm)freight yards full of old black men, and the (D)grave yards of the (D7)rust ed au to mo biles.

(C)Good morn

A A (D7)mer i ca, how are you?

Said (Em)don’t you know me, (C)I’m your na tive (G)son.

(D7)I’m

(D9)the (G)train they call the (D)Cit y of New (Em)Or leans.

I’ll be (Bb)gone five (C)hun dred (D)miles when the (D9)day is done.

Deal in’ (G)done.

I’ll be (Bb)gone five (C)hun dred (D)miles when the (D9)day is (G)done.

City Of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie

6 people have learned this song

Easy piano arrangement in the key of G at 100 BPM. Difficulty: medium. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

About “City Of New Orleans”

What key is "City Of New Orleans" in?: "City Of New Orleans" by Arlo Guthrie is in the key of G with a tempo of 100 BPM. Difficulty: medium.
Is "City Of New Orleans" 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 "City Of New Orleans" 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 "City Of New Orleans"?: This arrangement of "City Of New Orleans" uses 12 chords: A, A7, Am, Bb, Bm, C, D, D7, +4 more.
How long does it take to learn "City Of New Orleans" on piano?: 2–4 weeks of consistent practice (20–30 min/day) for an intermediate player. Drill the tricky passages in isolation first.