It was the (F7)third of June, an oth er (Cm7)sleep y, dust y del ta day,
I was (F7)out chop pin’ cot ton and my (Cm7)broth er was bail in’ hay:
And at (Bb7)din ner time we stopped and walked back to the house
to eat,
And Ma ma (F7)hol lered at the back door, “Y’all re (Cm7)mem ber to wipe your feet”.
Then she (Bb7)said, “I got some news this morn in’ from Choc taw Ridge,
To day (F7)Bil ly Joe Mc Al lis ter jumped (Eb7)off the Tal la hat chee Bridge.“
(F7)third of June, an oth er (Cm7)sleep y, dust y del ta day,
I was (F7)out chop pin’ cot ton and my (Cm7)broth er was bail in’ hay:
And at (Bb7)din ner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat,
And Ma ma (F7)hol lered at the back door, “Y’all re (Cm7)mem ber to wipe your feet”.
Then she (Bb7)said, “I got some news this morn in’ from Choc taw Ridge,
To day (F7)Bil ly Joe Mc Al lis ter jumped (Eb7)off the Tal la hat chee Bridge.“
Ode To Billy Joe by Bobbie Gentry
3 people have learned this song
Easy piano arrangement in the key of Bb at 100 BPM. Difficulty: easy. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.
About “Ode To Billy Joe”
- What key is "Ode To Billy Joe" in?
- "Ode To Billy Joe" by Bobbie Gentry is in the key of Bb with a tempo of 100 BPM. Difficulty: easy.
- Is "Ode To Billy Joe" 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 "Ode To Billy Joe" 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 "Ode To Billy Joe"?
- This arrangement of "Ode To Billy Joe" uses 4 chords: Bb7, Cm7, Eb7, F7. Only a handful of chords — a great pick for early learners.
- How long does it take to learn "Ode To Billy Joe" on piano?
- 30–60 minutes for a basic playthrough using color-coded notes; 1–2 weeks of daily 15-min practice to perform smoothly hands-together.
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