What key is "Kid Charlemagne" in?

"Kid Charlemagne" by Steely Dan is in the key of C with a tempo of 100 BPM. Difficulty: medium.

Is "Kid Charlemagne" 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 "Kid Charlemagne" 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 "Kid Charlemagne"?

This arrangement of "Kid Charlemagne" uses 13 chords: Am, Bb7, C, C7, Cmaj7, Dm, Dm7, Em7, +5 more.

How long does it take to learn "Kid Charlemagne" 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 Steely Dan can I play here?

Try "RIKKI DON'T LOSE THAT NUMBER", "DEACON BLUES", "REELING IN THE YEARS". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.

Lyrics

While the mu sic played you (G)worked by can dle light

those (F)San Fran cis co nights.

You were the best in town.

at your Tech ni col or® mo tor home.

Just by chance you crossed the (G)dia mond with the pearl.

You (F)turned it on the world;

that’s when you turned the world a round.

and you’d go it a lone.

Did you feel

like (Am)Je sus?

Did you re (Am)al (F)ize

that you were a cham pi on in their (F)eyes?

On the hill the stuff was (G)laced with ker o sene,

but (F)yours was kitch en clean.

Ev ’ry one stopped to stare at your Tech ni col or® mo tor home.

Ev ’ry A frame had your (G)num ber on the wall.

You (F)must have had it all;

you’d go to L A on a dare

and you’d go it a lone.

Could you live

for (Am)ev er?

Could you see (Am)the (F)day?

Could you feel your whole pi on in their (F)eyes?

world fall a (F)part and (C)fade a (Dm)way?

Get a (Em7)long,

get a (Em7)long, Kid Char le magne.

Get a (Em7)long, Kid Char le (F7)magne.

Now the pa trons or have all (G)left you in the red.

Your (F)low rent friends are dead;

just get them all out of here.

All those Is there day in the car?

who used to paint the Yes, face, there’s gas in the car.

they’ve (F)joined the hu man race.

I think things the (Bb7)peo ple down the hall know who you are.

Son, you (G7)were

mis (Am)tak en,

you are ob (Am)so (F)lete;

look at all the white men on the (F)street.

Get a (Em7)long,

get a (Em7)long, Kid Char le magne.

Get a (Em7)long, Kid Char le (F7)magne.

Clean this mess up or else we’ll (G)all end up in jail.

Those (F)test tubes and the scale,

just get them all out of here.

All those Is there day in the car?

who used to paint the Yes, face, there’s gas in the car.

they’ve (F)joined the hu man race.

I think things the (Bb7)peo ple down the hall know who you are.

Care ful (G7)what

you (Am)car ry

’cause the man (Am)is (F)wise;

you are still an out law in their (F)street.

(F)eyes.

Kid Charlemagne by Steely Dan

2 people have learned this song

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

About “Kid Charlemagne”

What key is "Kid Charlemagne" in?: "Kid Charlemagne" by Steely Dan is in the key of C with a tempo of 100 BPM. Difficulty: medium.
Is "Kid Charlemagne" 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 "Kid Charlemagne" 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 "Kid Charlemagne"?: This arrangement of "Kid Charlemagne" uses 13 chords: Am, Bb7, C, C7, Cmaj7, Dm, Dm7, Em7, +5 more.
How long does it take to learn "Kid Charlemagne" 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 Steely Dan can I play here?: Try "RIKKI DON'T LOSE THAT NUMBER", "DEACON BLUES", "REELING IN THE YEARS". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.