Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Circles on piano
Written by George Harrison
- E minor
- 4/4
- 105 BPM
- 1982
- Easy
Learn Circles in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bsus4 – Esus4 – B – Em
Circles sits in E minor: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bsus4 is B, E and F#; Esus4 is E, A and B; B is B, D# and F#; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
Bsus4Vsus4Esus4Isus4BVEmi- Bsus4B · E · F#
- Esus4E · A · B
- BB · D# · F#
- EmE · G · B
- 2
Left hand: Jazz walk
One note per beat, strolling like a jazz bassist. Musicians call it walking bass (walking bass), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Soft chords
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 105 BPM
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: C – D – Em
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDEm- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
Play next
Questions about Circles
What chords are in Circles?
The loop is Bsus4 – Esus4 – B – Em (Vsus – Isus – V – i) in E minor, and the song ends on C – D – Em.
What key is Circles in?
E minor, at about 105 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Circles?
Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Circles 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.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.