Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Merry Go Round on piano
Written by Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally & others
- G major
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- I–vi–IV–I loop
- 2012
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Merry Go Round in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – Em – C – G
How it goes
Merry Go Round sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; Em is E, G and B; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIEmviCIVGI- GG · B · D
- EmE · G · B
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Hopscotch steps
How it goes
Step, step, skip a beat, step: like hopping over a square. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 668 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Skipping-stone chords
How it goes
One chord, then two bounces on the “ands”, like a stone on water. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: G – Em – G
How it goes
The last chords are I – vi – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GEmG
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Questions about Merry Go Round
What chords are in Merry Go Round?
The loop is G – Em – C – G (I – vi – IV – I) in G major, and the song ends on G – Em – G.
What key is Merry Go Round in?
G major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Merry Go Round?
Hopscotch steps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Merry Go Round easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Merry Go Round?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.