Billy Joel - Vienna Chords

How to play "Vienna" [Tabs] on acoustic guitar

Song Overview:

Key: Bb major
Capo: No capo required
Difficulty: Advanced (due to complex chord voicings and transitions)
Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

Chords Used:

• Bbaug (x10332)
• D7 (xx0212)
• Eb (x65343)
• Ebm/Gb (2x1342)
• F7 (131211)
• Gm (355333)
• F (133211)
• Ab (466544)
• C (x32010)
• D9sus4 (xx0213)
• D (xx0232)
• Am (x02210)
• Dm/A (x00231)
• Bb/F (1x3331)
• Am7 (x02010)
• Gm7 (353333)
• C7 (x32310)
• Gb7 (242322)
• G7 (320001)

Strumming Pattern:

Strumming: 63 bpm
Suggested: Down-down-up-up-down-up
Use gentle dynamics, leaning into the soft pulse of the piano for moodiness.
Alternate with light fingerpicking if you prefer a more intimate style.

Sections Breakdown:

Intro:

| Bbaug     | D7   Eb   | Ebm/Gb F7   | Bb        |

Set your tone here: moody, spacious. Take your time on chord transitions.
Let that F7 linger before settling into Bb. Aim for soft touches.

Verse 1:

Gm - Bb - F - Ab - Eb - Bb - C - D9sus4 - D
Gm - Bb - F - Ab - Eb - Bb - Am - D9sus4 - D

Feel the narrative. Joel’s lyrics live in tension—mirror that with intentional pauses.
Barre chords dominate, so break practice into two-chord mini-cycles to reduce fatigue.

Chorus:

Eb - F - Bb - Dm/A - Gm - Bb/F
Eb - Am7 - D7 - Gm7 - C7 - Gb7 - F - Bb

This is emotionally pivotal. The Eb to F shift should swell. Pull back gently on Bb.
Gb7 creates beautiful tension before resolving to F. Hit it clean and let it ring.

Verse 2:

Same chords as verse 1. If your hand gets tired, consider using a capo on the 3rd fret,
transpose chords to easier Em-based shapes.

Instrumental:

| Gm   Bb   | F    Ab       |
| Eb   Bb   | Am   D9sus4 D |

Reflective pause here. Play lighter, slower. Let each chord have breath.

Final Chorus and Tag:

Repeat previous chorus. End with:

G7 - Gb7 - F - Bbaug

Common Mistakes:

• Fretting barre chords incorrectly—watch thumb position and wrist angle.
• Rushing tempo—stay slow and measured, resist excitement.
• Sloppy transitions on F7 and Gb7—use slow practice loops.

General Tips:

• Tune carefully, intonation is critical on jazzy chords.
• Use flatwound or coated strings for smoother slides.
• Practice each chord change in isolation 5-10 times.
• Record yourself—listen for pacing and emotional delivery.

Song Facts:

"Vienna" is the hidden track in Billy Joel’s 1977 album *The Stranger* that, for many fans, rose as an unexpected masterpiece. Inspired by Joel’s father, who had returned to Vienna after divorce, the song is Joel’s meditation on slowing down in a world obsessed with productivity and haste. Each verse calls out different types of ambition: juvenile overdrive, romantic disillusionment, and pride-fueled blindness. That line *"Vienna waits for you"* It isn’t just a platitude—it's a plea. A reminder that something calmer and wiser exists, if you’ll stop sprinting. Lyrically, every phrase is surgical. Joel isn’t vague—he uses sharp imagery ("take the phone off the hook") to drive home life advice that feels intimate, not preachy. Musically, it borrows from Weimar cabaret and classical European pop—chord progressions reminiscent of a pre-rock era, with jazz voicings giving each moment a timeless feel. The song remains a cult favorite among Joel fans, despite never charting like "Piano Man" or "Just the Way You Are." The third chorus is a turning point—it wraps the existential tension with quiet acceptance. Not resignation, but gentle redirection. "Vienna waits for you" becomes not a scolding, but a soft encouragement to live more wisely.

Song Meaning:

This is a lullaby for the burned-out. Each verse is a mirror held up to modern striving. Joel sees the young person—perhaps himself, perhaps you—chasing every goal at once. The lines *"You're so ambitious for a juvenile"* and *"You can't be everything you want to be before your time"* are truths most learn late. "Vienna" symbolizes patience, peace, and the things we ignore in youth. Joel contrasts American urgency with old-world stillness. The bridge about pride and satisfaction cautions against letting ego blind you. By the final chorus, the mood is almost resigned, but not cynical. It’s as if the speaker is older, watching the younger self with both affection and worry. The final tag is almost whispered: "When will you realize... Vienna waits for you."

Comparisons to previous works:

"Vienna" is quieter and more introspective than Joel’s breakout hit "Piano Man," which focuses more on others. "Just the Way You Are" is romantic and external; "Vienna" is personal and reflective. It lacks the satire of "Movin' Out" and instead chooses depth over narrative. Its composition hints at classical structures unlike the pop-rock forms of his other singles. You can feel echoes of “She's Always a Woman” in tone, but "Vienna" is heavier with melancholy. It’s one of Joel's most compositionally sophisticated songs—and emotionally naked.

Tuning:E A D G B E
Key:Bb
Capo:no capo
Vienna – Billy Joel
[Intro]
| Bbaug     | D7   Eb   | Ebm/Gb F7   | Bb        |
[Verse 1]
Gm               Bb
   Slow down you crazy child
       F                 Ab
You're so ambitious for a juvenile
            Eb                      Bb
But then if you're so smart tell me why
                   C    D9sus4  D
Are you still so afraid
Gm                              Bb
   Where's the fire, what's the hurry about
          F                       Ab
You better cool it off before you burn it out
        Eb
You got so much to do and only
Bb                  Am    D9sus4  D
So many hours in a day
[Chorus]
Eb                            F
   But you know that when the truth is told
             Bb            Dm/A
That you can get what you want
           Gm        Bb/F
Or you can just get old
            Eb                   Am7        D7   Gm7      C7
You're gonna kick off before you even get halfway through
              Gb7
When will you realize
F                  Bb
  Vienna waits for you
[Verse 2]
Gm                  Bb
   Slow down you're doing fine
             F
You can't be everything you want to be
  Ab
Before your time
              Eb                Bb             C        D9sus4  D
Although it's so romantic on the borderline tonight, tonight
Gm                      Bb
   Too bad but it's the life you lead
           F
You're so ahead of yourself
            Ab
That you forgot what you need
               Eb
Though you can see when you're wrong
             Bb                            Am            D9sus4 D
You know you can't always see when you're right, you're ri  -   ight
[Chorus]
Eb                           F
   You got your passion, you got your pride
    Bb                  Dm/A       Gm        Bb/F
But don't you know that only fools are satisfied
Eb                      Am7            D7      Gm7   C7
   Dream on, but don't imagine they'll all come true
              Gb7
When will you realize
F             Bb
  Vienna waits for you
[Instrumental]
| Gm   Bb   | F    Ab       |
| Eb   Bb   | Am   D9sus4 D |
[Chorus]
Eb                F
   Slow down you crazy child
             Bb            Dm/A
And take the phone off the hook
         Gm          Bb/F
And disappear for a while
Eb                         Am7            D7    Gm7   C7
   It's alright, you can afford to lose a day or two
              Gb7
When will you realize
F             Bb
  Vienna waits for you
Eb                            F
   And you know that when the truth is told
             Bb            Dm/A
That you can get what you want
           Gm        Bb/F
Or you can just get old
            Eb                   Am7      D7     Gm7      C7
You're gonna kick off before you even get halfway through
              Gb7
Why don't you realize
F            Bb
  Vienna waits for you
[Tag]
G7               Gb7 N.C.
   When will you realize
F          Bbaug
  Vienna waits for you
[Outro]
|(Bbaug)    | D7   Eb   | Ebm/Gb F7   | Bb    Bb