Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Shop Around on piano
By Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
- G major
- 4/4
- 90 BPM
- I7–IV7–I7–IV7 loop
- 1960
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Shop Around in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – C7 – G7 – C7
How it goes
Shop Around sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; C7 is C, E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7I7C7IV7G7I7C7IV7- G7G · B · D · F
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Dip-and-back bounce
How it goes
The root twice, a dip down on beat 3, and right back up on beat 4. Musicians call it broken chord 8-8-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 188 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Shy chords
How it goes
Waits out beat 1, then a chord on 2 and a little double on 3. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 90 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: C – D – G
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A
- GG · B · D
Play next
Questions about Shop Around
What chords are in Shop Around?
The loop is G7 – C7 – G7 – C7 (I7 – IV7 – I7 – IV7) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is Shop Around in?
G major, at about 90 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Shop Around?
Dip-and-back bounce: broken chord 8-8-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Shop Around 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.