Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Circle Of Life on piano
By Elton John
- Bb major
- 4/4
- 62 BPM
- 1994
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Circle Of Life in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D7 – Ab7 – G7 – Cm7 – C – Cm7 – Gb7
How it goes
Circle Of Life sits in Bb major: Bb is home, where the song ends. It goes round 7 chords: D7 is D, F#, A and C; Ab7 is Ab, C, Eb and Gb; G7 is G, B, D and F; Cm7 is C, Eb, G and Bb; C is C, E and G; Gb7 is Gb, Bb, Db and Fb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
D7III7Ab7bVII7G7VI7Cm7ii7CIICm7ii7Gb7bVI7- D7D · F# · A · C
- Ab7Ab · C · Eb · Gb
- G7G · B · D · F
- Cm7C · Eb · G · Bb
- CC · E · G
- Gb7Gb · Bb · Db · Fb
- 2
Left hand: Power fifths
How it goes
Root and fifth together: big and bold. Musicians call it lh power fifths (left-hand chords), a medium pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Bouncy bells
How it goes
A high bell note, then chords bouncing on every “and”. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 62 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: Eb – F – Bb
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EbFBb- EbEb · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- BbBb · D · F
Play next
Questions about Circle Of Life
What chords are in Circle Of Life?
The loop is D7 – Ab7 – G7 – Cm7 – C – Cm7 – Gb7 (III7 – bVII7 – VI7 – ii7 – II – ii7 – bVI7) in Bb major, and the song ends on Eb – F – Bb.
What key is Circle Of Life in?
Bb major, at about 62 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Circle Of Life?
Power fifths: lh power fifths, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Circle Of Life easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 7 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Can I hear the real melody of Circle Of Life?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 8 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.