Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell
Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell runs at 172 BPM in 4/4 and is in the key of D major. It is built on 3 chords — D, G, A. Released in 1975.
✓ Key sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected. See how we verify →
What to watch for
Only 3 chord shapes here — get each one clean on its own before worrying about switching between them at tempo.
Practice at the right tempo
This song sits at 172 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 Big Yellow Taxi in?
Big Yellow Taxi is in D major, sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected.
What tempo is Big Yellow Taxi?
Big Yellow Taxi runs at 172 BPM (or 86 half-time).
What chords does Big Yellow Taxi use?
Big Yellow Taxi is built on 3 chords: D, G, A.
What tuning is Big Yellow Taxi in?
This recording sits about 30 cents flat of concert pitch (A=432.4Hz, not 440Hz). Tune to the track or you'll fight it the whole way.