Ode To Billie Joe by Bobbie Gentry
Ode To Billie Joe by Bobbie Gentry runs at 120 BPM in 4/4 and is in the key of D major. It is built on 4 chords — D7, G7, C7, D. Released in 1976.
✓ Key sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected. See how we verify →
What to watch for
Listen for the 7th in these chords — it's the note doing most of the harmonic pull, and it's the first thing that disappears if you fret only the plain triad underneath it.
Practice at the right tempo
This song sits at 120 BPM. Start at 60% until the changes are clean — speed is a by-product of accuracy, not a goal.
Learn the theory
Play it on a live fretboard
Every shape, every voicing, and the scale that fits over them — on a board you can hear. Then just talk to it: Melody Monkey's personal music teacher controls the fretboard, so ask for a chord, a scale, a progression, or why any of it works, and watch it land under your fingers. Free to start.
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Frequently asked questions
What key is Ode To Billie Joe in?
Ode To Billie Joe is in D major, sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected.
What tempo is Ode To Billie Joe?
Ode To Billie Joe runs at 120 BPM (beats per minute).
What chords does Ode To Billie Joe use?
Ode To Billie Joe is built on 4 chords: D7, G7, C7, D.
What tuning is Ode To Billie Joe in?
This recording sits about 11 cents flat of concert pitch (A=437.2Hz, not 440Hz). Tune to the track or you'll fight it the whole way.