What key is "Honky Cat" in?

"Honky Cat" by Elton John is in the key of G with a tempo of 100 BPM. Difficulty: medium.

Is "Honky Cat" 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 "Honky Cat" 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 "Honky Cat"?

This arrangement of "Honky Cat" uses 4 chords: B7, D7, E7, G. Only a handful of chords — a great pick for early learners.

How long does it take to learn "Honky Cat" 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 Elton John can I play here?

Try "SOMEONE SAVED MY LIFE TONIGHT", "CROCODILE ROCK", "BURN DOWN THE MISSION". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.

Lyrics

When I look back,

boy, I must have been green,

bop pin’ in the coun try,

fish in’ in a stream,

look in’ for an an swer,

try in’ to find a sign.

Un til I saw your cit y lights,

hon ey, I was blind.

They said,

“Get back, hon ky cat.

Bet ter get back to the woods.”

Well, I

quit those days

and my

red neck ways

and a,

hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm,

oh,

the change is gon na do me good.

“You bet ter get back,

hon ky cat.

Liv in’ in the cit y ain’t where it’s at.

It’s like

tryin’ to find gold in a

sil ver mine.

It’s like

tryin’ to drink whis key,

oh,

from a bot tle of wine.”

Well, I read some books and I read some mag a zines

a bout those

high class la dies down in

New Or leans, and all the

folks back home, well, they said I was a fool.

They said,

“Oh,

be liev in’ the Lord

is the gold en rule.”

They said, “Get back,

hon ky cat.

Bet ter get back to the woods.”

But I

quit those days

and my

red neck ways

and,

ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh,

oh,

the change is gon na do me good.

They said, “Get back,

hon ky cat.

Bet ter get back to the woods.”

But I

quit those days

and my

red neck ways

and,

ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh,

oh,

the change is gon na do me good.

They said,

“Stay at home,

boy, you got ta tend the farm.

Liv in’ in the cit y, boy, is is gon na break your heart.”

But

how can you stay when your

heart says no?

Ah, ah,

how can you stop when your

feet say go?

“You bet ter

Get back, hon ky cat, get back, hon ky cat, get back, (G)ooh.

Honky Cat by Elton John

14 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 “Honky Cat”

What key is "Honky Cat" in?: "Honky Cat" by Elton John is in the key of G with a tempo of 100 BPM. Difficulty: medium.
Is "Honky Cat" 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 "Honky Cat" 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 "Honky Cat"?: This arrangement of "Honky Cat" uses 4 chords: B7, D7, E7, G. Only a handful of chords — a great pick for early learners.
How long does it take to learn "Honky Cat" 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 Elton John can I play here?: Try "SOMEONE SAVED MY LIFE TONIGHT", "CROCODILE ROCK", "BURN DOWN THE MISSION". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.