Billy Joel - Zanzibar: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Zanzibar" 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.

Am9                 F9
Ali dances and the audience applauds
            Am9                               A#maj7
Though he's bathed in sweat he hasn't lost his style
C                 F
Ali don't you go downtown
C              Am                Bm7-5 E7
You gave away another round for free Whoa...

Me, I'm just another face at Zanzibar
But the waitress always serves a secret smile, woah
She's waiting out in Shantytown
She's gonna pull the curtains down for me
For me

Chorus:
G+                      Cm7
I've got the old man's car,
Fm9                A#
I've got a jazz guitar
D#maj9           G#maj7 Gm7 Fm7
I've got a tab at   Zanzibar
F#m7-5 Gm7   G#maj7     G#7 D7
  Tonight is where I'll be
     G+ B7 E+
I'll be

Rose, he knows he's such a credit to the game
But the Yankees grab the headlines every time
Melodrama's so much fun
In black and white for everyone to see, woah

Me, I'm trying just to get to second base
And I'd steal it if she only gave the sign, woah
She's gonna give the go ahead
The inning isn't over yet for me
For me

Chorus:
I've got the old man's car
I've got a jazz guitar
I've got a tab at Zanzibar
Tonight, that's where I'll be, I'll be

Tell the waitress I'll come back to Zanzibar
I'll be hiding in the darkness with my beer, woah
She's waiting out in Shantytown
She's gonna pull the curtains down for me
For me

Chorus:
I've got the old man's car
I've got a jazz guitar
I've got a tab at Zanzibar
Tonight, that's where I'll be, I'll be


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A#

Guitar chord A#

A#maj7

Guitar chord A#maj7

Am

Guitar chord Am

Am9

Guitar chord Am9

B7

Guitar chord B7

C

Guitar chord C

Cm7

Guitar chord Cm7

D7

Guitar chord D7

E+

Guitar chord E+

E7

Guitar chord E7

F

Guitar chord F

F9

Guitar chord F9

Fm7

Guitar chord Fm7

Fm9

Guitar chord Fm9

G+

Guitar chord G+

G#7

Guitar chord G#7

G#maj7

Guitar chord G#maj7

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 "Zanzibar" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Zanzibar" by Billy Joel.

Billy Joel Song List