Billy Joel - This Is the Time: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "This Is the Time" on your guitar with our chord guide. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.

Dm7              D#                F
We walked on the beach beside that old hotel
Dm7                 D#                  F
They're tearing it down now, but it's just as well
Dm7                 D#            F
I haven't shown you everything a man can do
Dm7             D#               F
So stay with me baby, I've got plans for you

Chorus:
            F/A       A#
This is the time to remember
         D#               F
Cause it will not last forever
              F/A          A#
These are the days to hold on to
          D#                    F
Cause we won't, although we'll want to
            A#
This is the time
G#6                G7sus4 G7
But time is gonna change

                    F#+    F#6  F#+ F#6
You've given me the best of you
                    A#/F   F
And now I need the rest of you

Did you know that before you came into my life
It was some kind of miracle that I survived
Some day we will both look back
And have to laugh
We lived through a lifetime
And the aftermath

Chorus

I know we've got to move somehow
But I don't want to lose you now

Dm7               Am7
Sometimes it's so easy
         A#           C C#dim7
To let a day slip on by
Dm7           Am7                 A#  A# C
Without even seeing each other at all
Dm7              Am7
But this is the time you'll turn back
    Gm7    Em7-5 A7
And so will I
Dm7                Am7                 A#
And those will be days you can never recall

And so we embrace again
Behind the dunes
This beach is so cold on winter afternoons
But holding you close is like holding the summer sun
I'm warm from the memory of days to come

Chorus

You've given me the best of you
But now I need the rest of you


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

A7

Guitar chord A7

A#

Guitar chord A#

Am7

Guitar chord Am7

C

Guitar chord C

C#dim7

Guitar chord C#dim7

D#

Guitar chord D#

Dm7

Guitar chord Dm7

F

Guitar chord F

F#+

Guitar chord F#+

F#6

Guitar chord F#6

G7

Guitar chord G7

G7sus4

Guitar chord G7sus4

G#6

Guitar chord G#6

Gm7

Guitar chord Gm7

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "This Is the Time" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "This Is the Time" by Billy Joel.

Billy Joel Song List