Some folks like to (E7)get a way, take a (Am)hol i day (Am7)from the (Gm7)neigh bor hood;
hop a flight to Mi (A7)am i Beach un or to (Dm7)Hol ly wood.
But I’m (E7)tak in’ a (Am)Grey hound (C)on the (C)Hud son to Riv er (D7)line.
I’m in a (G7sus)New York state of (Am)mind.
I’ve seen all the (E7)mov ie stars in their (Am)fan cy cars (Am7)and their (Gm7)lim ou sines,
been a high in the (A7)Rock ies Beach un der the (Dm7)ev er greens.
But I (E7)know what I’m (Am)need in’ (C)and I (C)don’t son to waste more (D7)time.
I’m in a (G7sus)New York state of (Am)mind.
It (Am7)was so (D7)eas y liv in’ (Gmaj7)day by day,
out of touch
with the rhy thm and (Fmaj7)blues.
And now I (E7)need a lit tle (A)give and take,
the (Am7)New York Times,
the (Gmaj7)Dai ly News.
Comes down to re (E7)al i ty and it’s (Am)fine with me, (Am7)’cause I’ve (Gm7)let it slide.
Don’t care if it’s (A7)Chi na town or on (Dm7)Riv er side.
I don’t (E7)have an y (Am)rea sons; (C)I’ve left them all be (D7)hind.
I’m in a (G7sus)New York state of (C)mind.
New York State Of Mind by Billy Joel
16 people have learned this song
Easy piano arrangement in the key of C at 120 BPM. Difficulty: easy. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.
Learn how to accompany it· the chords and what each hand plays, on Super Simple Chords ↗About “New York State Of Mind”
- What key is "New York State Of Mind" in?
- "New York State Of Mind" by Billy Joel is in the key of C with a tempo of 120 BPM. Difficulty: easy.
- Is "New York State Of Mind" easy to play on piano?
- Yes — this arrangement is rated easy, meaning it uses simple chord patterns and a manageable tempo. Most beginners can play through it in 1-3 practice sessions using our color-coded notes.
- Can I play "New York State Of Mind" 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.
- How long does it take to learn "New York State Of Mind" on piano?
- 1–3 short practice sessions for the basics; 2–3 weeks to perform confidently with both hands.
- What other songs by Billy Joel can I play here?
- Try "SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT", "EVERYBODY HAS A DREAM", "CAPTAIN JACK". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.