Skip to song content

Billy Joel - Vienna Ukulele Chords

ChordsGm, A#, F, G#, D#, C, D, Dm, Am, F#, G
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

  • Ukulele Gm chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-1Ukulele Gm chord diagram
  • Ukulele A# | B♭ chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Ukulele A# | B♭ chord diagram
  • Ukulele F chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-1-0Ukulele F chord diagram
  • Ukulele G# | A♭ chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-4-3Ukulele G# | A♭ chord diagram
  • Ukulele D# | E♭ chord diagram Fingering: 0-3-3-1Ukulele D# | E♭ chord diagram
  • Ukulele C chord diagram Fingering: 0-0-0-3Ukulele C chord diagram
  • Ukulele D chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-2-0Ukulele D chord diagram
  • Ukulele Dm chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-1-0Ukulele Dm chord diagram
  • Ukulele Am chord diagram Fingering: 2-0-0-0Ukulele Am chord diagram
  • Ukulele F# | G♭ chord diagram Fingering: 3-1-2-1 Barre at fret 1.Ukulele F# | G♭ chord diagram
  • Ukulele G chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-3-2Ukulele G chord diagram


[Gm]Slow down you [A#]crazy child.
You’re [F]so ambitious for a [G#]juvenile.
But then if [D#]you’re so smart tell me [A#]why.
Are you still so af[C]raid. [D]


[Gm]Where’s the fire, what’s the [A#]hurry about.
You better [F]cool it off before you [G#]burn it out.
You got [D#]so much to do and only
[A#]So many hours in a [C]day. [D]


[D#]But you know that when the [F]truth is told.
That you can [A#]get what you [Dm]want.
Or you can [Gm]just get [A#]old.
You’re gonna [D#]kick off before,
You [Am]even get [D]halfway [Gm]through. [C]
When will you [F#]realize.
[F]Vienna waits for [A#]you.


[Gm]Slow down you’re [A#]doing fine.
You can’t be [F]everything you want to be.
Be[G#]fore your time,
Although it’s [D#]so romantic,
On the [A#]borderline to[C]night, to[D]night.


[Gm]Too bad but it’s the [A#]life you lead
You’re so [F]ahead of yourself
That you for[G#]got what you need
Though you can [D#]see when you’re wrong
You know you [A#]can’t always see,
When you’re [C]right, you’re [D]right.


[D#]You got your passion, you [F]got your pride.
But [A#]don’t you know that [Dm]only fools [Gm]are satis[A#]fied.
[D#]Dream on, but don’t [Am]imagine they’ll [D]all come [Gm]true. [C]
When will you [F#]realize, [F]Vienna waits [A#]for you.


[D#]Slow down you [F]crazy child.
And take the [A#]phone off the [Dm]hook.
And disap[Gm]pear for a [A#]while.
[D#]It’s alright, you can af[Am]ford,
To lose a [D]day or [Gm]two. [C]
When will you [F#]realize.
[F]Vienna waits [A#]for you.


[D#]And you know that when the [F]truth is told
That you can [A#]get what you [Dm]want
Or you can [Gm]just get [A#]old.
You’re gonna [D#]kick off before you
[Am]Even get [D]halfway [Gm]through. [C]
Why don’t you [F#]realize.
[F]Vienna waits [A#]for you.


[G]When will you [F#]realize.
[F]Vienna waits [A#]for you.

Report Error
AlbumThe Stranger
Year1977
KeyGm

How to play Vienna on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Billy Joel - Vienna on ukulele requires 11 chords and 19 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

Vienna uses these transitions most often: F → A# (9), Gm → A# (8), and A# → D# (6). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with Gm - A# chord transition.

1. Gm → A# chord transition

To move from Gm to A#;

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on C string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 3.
Gm to A#

2. A# → F chord transition

To move from A# to F;

  1. While playing A#, lift your ring finger from G string fret 3.
  2. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Lift your middle finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
A# to F

3. F → G# chord transition

To move from F to G#;

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to C string fret 3.
  3. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on E string fret 4.
F to G#

4. G# → D# chord transition

To move from G# to D#;

  1. While playing G#, lift your middle finger from C string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
  3. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to C string fret 3.
  4. Slide your pinky on E string from fret 4 to fret 3.
G# to D#

5. D# → A# chord transition

To move from D# to A#;

  1. While playing D#, lift your pinky from E string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Slide your ring finger from C string fret 3 to G string fret 3.
  4. Place middle finger on C string fret 2.

6. A# → C chord transition

To move from A# to C;

  1. While playing A#, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

7. C → D chord transition

To move from C to D;

  1. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on G string fret 2.
  3. Place middle finger on C string fret 2.

8. D → Gm chord transition

To move from D to Gm;

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on C string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 2 to fret 3.

9. D → D# chord transition

To move from D to D#;

  1. While playing D, lift your middle finger from C string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 1.
  3. Slide your ring finger from E string fret 2 to C string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on E string fret 3.

10. D# → F chord transition

To move from D# to F;

  1. While playing D#, first lift your ring finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Place middle finger on G string fret 2.

11. A# → Dm chord transition

To move from A# to Dm;

  1. Keep index finger on E string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from G string fret 3 to C string fret 2.

12. Dm → Gm chord transition

To move from Dm to Gm;

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to C string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from C string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.

13. D# → Am chord transition

To move from D# to Am;

  1. While playing D#, first lift your index finger, ring finger, and pinky.
  2. Place middle finger on G string fret 2.

14. Am → D chord transition

To move from Am to D;

  1. Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on G string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on E string fret 2.

15. Gm → C chord transition

To move from Gm to C;

  1. While playing Gm, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

16. C → F# chord transition

To move from C to F#;

  1. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 3.
  2. Place index finger on C string fret 1.
  3. Place middle finger on E string fret 2.

17. F# → F chord transition

To move from F# to F;

  1. While playing F#, lift your ring finger from G string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from C string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to G string fret 2.

18. A# → G chord transition

To move from A# to G;

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on C string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

19. G → F# chord transition

To move from G to F#;

  1. Slide your index finger on C string from fret 2 to fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 3.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Vienna.

  • Vienna includes 91 chord transitions, 19 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Vienna contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Vienna connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After A#, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are F (24%), C (16%), and D# (11%).
    • A# → F: 24%
    • A# → C: 16%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → A#: 1%
    • F → G#: 0%