What key is "The Longest Time" by Billy Joel played in?

The Longest Time is arranged in the key of Ab on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.

What's the tempo (BPM) of "The Longest Time"?

The arrangement plays at 176 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.

Is "The Longest Time" easy to play on piano?

This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.

Can I download sheet music for "The Longest Time"?

Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.

Who composed "The Longest Time"?

"The Longest Time" was originally performed by Billy Joel. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.

What chords are used in "The Longest Time"?

This arrangement uses 11 chords: Ab, Bb, Bb7, Cm, D7, Eb, Eb7, F7, +3 more.

What other songs by Billy Joel can I play here?

Try "SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT", "EVERYBODY HAS A DREAM", "CAPTAIN JACK". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.

Lyrics

(Eb)Oh,

(Bb)oh, (Eb)oh, (Ab)oh

(Bb)For the long est (Eb)time

(Bb)Oh, (Eb)oh, (Ab)oh

(Bb)For the long est (Eb)If (Gm)you (Eb)said (Gm)good (Ab)bye to me to (Eb)night

There (Gm)would (Eb)still (Gm)be (F7)mu sic (F7)left to (Bb)write

What (G7)else could (Cm)I do (Bb)When I’m so in (Eb)spired a (Eb7)by you That has n’t (Fm)hap pened for the (Bb)long est (Eb)time

(Eb)Once (Gm)I (Eb)thought (Gm)my (Ab)in no cence was (Eb)gone

Now (Gm)I (Eb)know (Gm)that (F7)hap pi (F7)ness goes (Bb)on

That’s (G7)where you (Cm)found me (Bb)When you put your (Eb)arms a (Eb7)round me I have n’t (Fm)been there for the (Bb)long est (Eb)time

(Eb)Oh,

(Bb)oh, (Eb)oh, (Ab)oh

(Bb)For the long est (Eb)time

(Bb)Oh, (Eb)oh, (Ab)oh

(Bb)For the long est (Eb)I’m (Gm)that (Eb)voice (Gm)you’re (Ab)hear ing in the (Eb)hall

And (Gm)the (Eb)great (Gm)est (F7)mir a (F7)cle of (Bb)all

Is (G7)how I (Cm)need you I And how you (Eb)need ed (Eb7)me too That has n’t (Fm)hap pened for the (Bb)long est (Eb)time

(Bb)May be this won’t (Cm)last ver y long But (D7)you feel so right And (Eb)I could be wrong

(Gm)May be I’ve been hop an ing too hard But I’ve der gone this far And it’s (Bb7)more than I hoped for (Eb)Who (Gm)knows (Eb)how (Gm)much (Ab)fur ther we’ll go (Eb)on

May (Gm)be (Eb)I’ll (Gm)be (F7)sor ry (F7)when you’re (Bb)gone

I’ll (G7)take my (Cm)chanc es I for got how (Eb)nice ro (Eb7)mance is I have n’t (Fm)been there for the (Bb)long est (Eb)time

(Bb)I had sec ond (Cm)thoughts at the start I (D7)said to my self Hold (Eb)on to your heart

(Gm)Now I know the wom an that you are You’re won der ful so far And it’s (Bb7)more than I hoped for (Eb)I (Gm)don’t (Eb)care (Gm)what (Ab)con se quence it (Eb)brings

I (Gm)have (Eb)been (Gm)a (F7)fool for (F7)less er (Bb)things

I (G7)want you (Cm)so bad I think you (Eb)ought to (Eb7)know that (Ab)I in tend to (Fm)hold you for the (Bb)long est (Eb)time

Oh,

(Bb)oh, (Eb)oh (Ab)oh

(Bb)For the long est (Eb)time

(Bb)Oh, (Eb)oh, (Ab)oh

(Bb)For the long est (Eb)time

(Bb)Oh, (Eb)oh, (Ab)oh

(Bb)For the long est (Eb)time

The Longest Time — Visual Piano Sheet Music

3 people have learned this song

"The Longest Time" in visual bar notation — see every note as a colored bar on the staff. Easier to read than traditional sheet music. Scrolls automatically as you play. Key of Ab, 176 BPM.

Teacher’s notes

This arrangement sits in A♭ with four flats, so your hands need to feel at home on those black keys before you push the tempo anywhere near 176 BPM — start at half speed, seriously.

Your left hand drives an octave bass pattern throughout, which sounds simple but gets tiring fast at tempo; keep your wrist loose and let your arm weight do the work rather than gripping each octave.

The real challenge is your right hand navigating eleven chords, including a string of secondary dominants — D7, G7, and F7 — that pull you briefly outside the key.

Drill those transitions in isolation because the voice-leading between, say, G7 to Cm or F7 to Fm involves small finger shifts that are easy to fumble when the tempo picks up.

Practice hands separately until each feels automatic, then combine at a slow tempo and only increase speed in small increments.

Once this clicks, you'll have genuine confidence moving through dominant-seventh shapes quickly, which pays off in almost every jazz-flavored pop song you'll touch next.

Try other practice modes:

Falling Notes Beginner Lead Sheet Simple Sheet

About “The Longest Time”

What key is "The Longest Time" by Billy Joel played in?: The Longest Time is arranged in the key of Ab on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "The Longest Time"?: The arrangement plays at 176 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "The Longest Time" easy to play on piano?: This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "The Longest Time"?: Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "The Longest Time"?: "The Longest Time" was originally performed by Billy Joel. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "The Longest Time"?: This arrangement uses 11 chords: Ab, Bb, Bb7, Cm, D7, Eb, Eb7, F7, +3 more.
What other songs by Billy Joel can I play here?: Try "SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT", "EVERYBODY HAS A DREAM", "CAPTAIN JACK". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.

The Longest Time

Get the MIDI from any YouTube piano cover

Lyrics

The Longest Time — Visual Piano Sheet Music

Try other practice modes:

About “The Longest Time”

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