Circlesquare
View chords used in this chart
capo, so Em is really F#m and so on. Some chords have numbers in
<angled brackets>. These indicate variations which I'll explain
later on.
___________________________________________________________________
| INTRO/VERSES | CHORUS/OUTRO | BRIDGE |
| | | |
| Em DM11 CM7 | Dsus2 DM11sus2 Em* GM6 | GM9 Dadd11 CM9 |
e|-0----0-----3---|-0<2>---0<2>-----0-----0-----|-<10>--<10>---------|
b|-0----3-----0---|-3------3--------0-----0-----|--10----10-----8----|
g|-0----0-----0---|-2------0--------0-----0-----|---0-----0-----0----|
d|-2----4<0>--2---|-0------2--------9-----9-----|---9-----0-----0----|
a|-2----5-----3---|----------------10----10-----|--10-----9-----7----|
e|-0--------------|-----------------0----10-----|--------10-----8----|
- By the way, I think Miles adds a low A to the DM11 chord in the
verse (554030). It's not very noticeable, so I don't bother with it.
- The studio versions replace CM7 with Cadd9 (032030).
- Many chords have either an open low E string, an open high E string,
or both. Sometimes, it sounds better to omit these notes.
RHYTHMIC PATTERN
----------------
This two-measure strumming pattern carries on through most of the song.
He likes to vary it the 3rd and 4th times he plays the bridge, but you
can figure that part out yourself.
*
/ / / / / / / / / / / *optional
1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . | 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . |
---------===================================---------
OPENING LICK
------------
e|--3-0--------------|
b|------3-0----------|
g|----------3-0-2-0--| all eighth notes
d|-------------------|
a|-------------------|
e|-------------------|
INTRO/VERSE 1
-------------
Em | DM11 | CM7 | CM7 each chord lasts one measure
is that a smile that hangs beneath your nose
or are your lips just stuck to your teeth
and they're too fixed to close
you don't have to ham it up for me
or tell me how long you've
waited just to be with me
CHORUS
------
Dsus2 | DM11sus2 | Em* | GM6 each chord lasts two measures
Make sure you play the Dsus2 to DM11sus2 progression by varying
the high E string like this:
......... Dsus2 <-> D ........... | .... Dmaj11sus2 <-> Dmaj11 ..... |
e|-0---2---2---0-0-|---2-2---2---0-0-|-0---2---2---0-0-|-2---2---2---0-0-|
b|-3---3---3---3-3-|---3-3---3---3-3-|-3---3---3---3-3-|-3---3---3---3-3-|
g|-2---2---2---2-2-|---2-2---2---2-2-|-0---0---0---0-0-|-0---0---0---2-2-|
d|-0---0---0---0-0-|---0-0---0---0-0-|-2---2---2---2-2-|-2---2---2---0-0-|
a|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
i've been a long term disappointment to myself
but it hits like a hammer when I'm that to someone else
and now the circle doesn't fit it's little square
it bulges with opportunity ... bulges
VERSE 2
-------
Same as Verse 1
is that a smile that hangs beneath your nose
or are your eyes so wide
they've pulled your mouth into a stupid pose
you don't have to ham it up for me
or tell me how long you've
waited just to be with me
REPEAT CHORUS
BRIDGE
------
GM9 | Dadd11 | CM9 | CM9<->Dadd11 each lasts two measures
Play this eight-measure progression four times. The second time, you can
add those high D notes that I indicated in the chord list as <10>. When
you come to the CM9<->Dadd11 part, play it like this:
................. Cmaj9 <-> Dadd11 ................
E|------------------------|--------------------------|
B|-8-10-10-10-10--8--8-10-|-10-10-10--8--8----10-----|
G|-0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-|--0--0--0--0--0-----0-----|
D|-0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-|--0--0--0--0--0-----0-----|
A|-7--9--9--9--9--7--7--9 |--9--9--9--7--7-----9-----|
E|-8-10-10-10-10--8--8-10-|-10-10-10--8--8----10-----|
1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
REPEAT CHORUS
REPEAT CHORUS
OUTRO
-----
Dsus2 | DM11sus2
Just repeat this bit from the chorus a bunch of times, and end on
DM11sus2. If you want to make the ending more melodic, you can
slow down and finish like this:
e|-3----------2-------------|
b|-3----------3----------3--|
g|-0----------0----------0--|
d|-2----------2----------2--|
a|--------------------------|
e|--------------------------|
---------===================================---------
Okay... I originally wasn't going to do this, but you talked me into it.
Here's my best guess at the electric part, which is also capoed at the 2nd
fret. The verse is rreeaallly simple: just Em 022000 (really F#m) with palm
muting and lots of effects. I'd guess that he's using overdrive, wah, and
some sort of tremolo-like volume effect; but I don't own any effects, so I
don't know that much. Also, he may be using only a partial form like
022xxx or something.
The chorus is something like this:
e|-------2---------|---------0-------|---------2-------|---------0-------|
b|-----3-----------|---3-------------|-----3-----------|---3-------------|
g|-----------------|-----2-----------|-0---------------|-----2-----------|
d|-0-------------2-|-----------------|---------------2-|-----------------|
a|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
e|-3---5---5---3-3-|---5-5---5---3-3-|-3---5---5---3-3-|---5-5---5---3---|
b|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
g|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
d|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
a|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
Don't ask about the bridge!
How to play Circlesquare
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is Em. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.