Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Circles on piano
Written by Mariah Carey & James Wright
- G major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- 2005
- Easy
Learn Circles in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – Am – G – Em
Circles sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Am is A, C and E; G is G, B and D; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIVAmiiGIEmvi- CC · E · G
- AmA · C · E
- GG · B · D
- EmE · G · B
- 2
Left hand: Stumbling footsteps
Steady steps with one tiny stumble right before beat 3. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2a · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 146 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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 – G
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG- DD · F# · A
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Questions about Circles
What chords are in Circles?
The loop is C – Am – G – Em (IV – ii – I – vi) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is Circles in?
G major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Circles?
Stumbling footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2a · 3 · 4, 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.