What key is "The Stranger" in?

"The Stranger" by Billy Joel is in the key of E with a tempo of 76 BPM. Difficulty: medium.

Is "The Stranger" 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 "The Stranger" 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 "The Stranger"?

This arrangement of "The Stranger" uses 26 chords: A, A6, Am, Am7, B, B7, Bbaug, Bm, +18 more.

How long does it take to learn "The Stranger" 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 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.

Lyrics

Well, we all have a face that was we (Em7)hide a way for ev er, and I we (C)take them out to and show our selves that I when (D)ev ’ry one re has gone.

Some are (Em7)sat in, her some are a rea steel, son she some are fused (Em7)silk and some are ven an lea ther.

They’re the fac (D)then I es of the stran ger, but we love to try them (Em7)on.

Well, we all fall in love, but we (Am)dis re gard the dan ger; though we (Am)share so man y sec crets, there are (D)some we nev er tell.

Why were you so sur prised that you (Am)nev er saw the stran ger?

Did you (Am)ev er let your (D)lov er see the stran ger in your (Em7)self?

Don’t be a fraid to try a gain.

(Dmaj7)Ev ’ry one goes (Gmaj7)south

(Gm)ev ’ry now and (D)then.

(Am7)Ooh, hoo.

You’ve done it; (Gm)why can’t some one else?

(D)You should know by (Bm)now;

(Bb)you’ve been there your (A6)self.

Once I used to be lieve I was we (Em7)such a great ro man cer, then I we (C)came home out to a wo man selves that I when (D)could not one re cog nize.

When I (Em7)pressed in, her for are a rea steel, son she re are fused (Em7)silk and some are ven an lea swer.

It was fac (D)then I es felt the stran ger kick me right be tween the (Em7)eyes.

Well, we all fall in love, but we (Am)dis re gard the dan ger; though we (Am)share so man y sec crets, there are (D)some we nev er tell.

Why were you so sur prised that you (Am)nev er saw the stran ger?

Did you (Am)ev er let your (D)lov er see the stran ger in your (Em7)self?

Don’t be a fraid to try a gain.

(Dmaj7)Ev ’ry one goes (Gmaj7)south

(Gm)ev ’ry now and (D)then.

(Am7)Ooh, hoo.

You’ve done it; (Gm)why can’t some one else?

(D)You should know by (Bm)now;

(Bb)you’ve been there your (A6)self.

Once I used (A6)self.

You may (Em7)nev er un der stand how the (Am)stran ger is in (Em7)spired, but he (Am)is n’t al ways (C)e vil and he is not al ways wrong.

Though you (Em7)drown in good in ten tions, you will (Am)nev er quench the fire.

Don’t give in to your de sire when the stran ger comes a long.

The Stranger by Billy Joel

Easy piano arrangement in the key of E at 76 BPM. Difficulty: medium. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

About “The Stranger”

What key is "The Stranger" in?: "The Stranger" by Billy Joel is in the key of E with a tempo of 76 BPM. Difficulty: medium.
Is "The Stranger" 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 "The Stranger" 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 "The Stranger"?: This arrangement of "The Stranger" uses 26 chords: A, A6, Am, Am7, B, B7, Bbaug, Bm, +18 more.
How long does it take to learn "The Stranger" 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 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.