The Circle Game Chords
by Joni Mitchell2,731 views, added to favorites 141 times
As Joni Mitchell played it, in open G tuning. All lyrics with accompanying chords. Full chord legend included, and additional playing tips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NEkJhBHh54.Was this info helpful?
| Difficulty: | intermediate |
|---|---|
| Tuning: | D G D G B D |
| Key: | B |
| Capo: | 4th fret |
Chords
Strumming
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Song: The circle game
Artist: Joni Mitchell
Composer: Joni Mitchell
Album: Ladies of the canyon
Tabbed by DJ 15th Aug 2021
The album track:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NEkJhBHh54
1967 TV performance in album key of B:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD97f8VyDek
1966 performance, a semi-tone higher
in the Key of C (Capo at 5th fret):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s8vHSB1eRo
(Song starts approx. 0:35)
OPEN TUNING: D-G-D-G-B-D (Open G tuning)
Tune 6th string down to D
Tune 5th string down to G
4th, 3rd and 2nd strings stay as standard tuning
Tune 1st string down to D
IMPORTANT INFO:
Joni plays the Bm/F# and C major as OVERHAND barres,
as seen in the live videos in both the links above,
it's important to be very careful which strings
are played. It may take a little practise to get
this technique, but it is made slightly easier in
the change over as Joni adds an open string G chord
just before the Bm/F#.
(There is a b6 in the first Bm shape and an add9 in
the first C/G but I've named them a bit simpler to
make the tab formatting neater.)
CAPO at 4th fret
(Will then sound in the original key of B)
IGNORE THE CHORD BOX DIAGRAMS that the website
displays, they are generated automatically from a
generic database and often don't show the best
options for a particular chord progression. Just use
the voicings suggested in the text column numbers.
Chord names & fret positions are relative to the capo
Bm = x4403x C/G = x02010 D7sus4 = xx0210
Am7 = x2201x D7 = xx0214 Bm/F# = 444400
G = x00000 Am/D = xx0212 C = 555555
C/G * = x02012
Please take a second to scroll down to the bottom of
the page and select a star rating for my tab, thanks
====================================================
[Intro]
Bm Am7 Bm Am7 Bm Am7
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
G C/G G
| / / / / | / / / / |
[Verse 1]
G C/G G C/G G
Yesterday a child came out to wonder--------,
G C/G D7 Am/D D7sus4
Caught a dragon - fly inside a jar-------------,
Am/D D7 D7sus4
G C/G G Bm/F#
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder,
C G Bm Am7 G C/G G
And tearful at the falling of a ...star---------
[Chorus]
G Bm Am7 G
And the seasons, they go 'round and 'round,
G Bm Am7 G
And the painted ponies go up and down
C/G C/G* C/G G C/G G
We're captive on the carou- sel of...time-----,
C/G G C/G
We can't return,
C/G * C/G G Bm/F# C
We can only look be - hind from where we came,
G Bm
And go 'round, and 'round, and 'round,
Am7 G C/G G
In the circle ...game---------!
[Verse 2]
G C/G
Then the child moved ten times round the...
G C/G G C/G G
...Seas - ons-------,
G C/G D7 Am/D D7sus4
Skated over ten clear frozen streams------------,
Am/D D7 D7sus4
G C/G Bm/F#
Words like, 'When you're older' must ap - pease him,
C G Bm Am7 G C/G G
And promises of 'someday', make his ...dreams-------!
[Chorus]
G Bm Am7 G
And the seasons, they go 'round and 'round,
G Bm Am7 G
And the painted ponies go up and down
C/G C/G * C/G G C/G G
We're captive on the carou- sel of...time-----,
C/G G C/G
We can't return,
C/G* C/G G Bm/F# C
We can only look be - hind from where we came,
G Bm
And go 'round, and 'round, and 'round,
Am7 G C/G G
In the circle ...game---------!
[Verse 3]
G C/G G C/G G
Sixteen springs...and sixteen summers gone now-----,
G C/G
Cartwheels turn to car wheels...
G D7 Am/D D7sus4
...Through the town-------------,
Am/D D7 D7sus4 G C/G
And they tell him ...take your time,
Bm/F# C
It won't be long now...till you drag your feet...
G Bm Am7 G C/G G
...To slow the cir - cles ....down--------!
[Chorus]
G Bm Am7 G
And the seasons, they go 'round and 'round,
G Bm Am7 G
And the painted ponies go up and down
C/G C/G * C/G G C/G G
We're captive on the carou- sel of...time-----,
C/G G C/G
We can't return,
C/G* C/G G Bm/F# C
We can only look be - hind from where we came,
G Bm
And go 'round, and 'round, and 'round,
Am7 G C/G G
In the circle ...game---------!
[Verse 4]
G
So the years spin by,
C/G G C/G G
And now the boy is ...twen - ty------,
G C/G
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur...
D7 Am/D D7sus4
...Coming true-------,
Am/D D7 D7sus4 G
There'll be new dreams,
C/G Bm/F#
Maybe, better dreams ...and plenty,
C G Bm Am7 G C/G G
Be-fore the last re-volving year is ...through-----
[Chorus]
G Bm Am7 G
And the seasons, they go 'round and 'round,
G Bm Am7 G
And the painted ponies go up and down
C/G C/G * C/G G C/G G
We're captive on the carou- sel of...time-----,
C/G G C/G
We can't return,
C/G* C/G G Bm/F# C
We can only look be - hind from where we came,
G Bm
And go 'round, and 'round, and 'round,
Am7 G C/G G
In the circle ...game---------!
[Coda]
Bm Am7
And go 'round and 'round and 'round in the circle...
N.C. G C/G G C/G G C/G G C/G G
...game---------------------------------------!
X×
The Circle Game – Joni Mitchell
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"The Circle Game"
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12 comments
This is the only real way to play this chestnut. Yet another expert chart from Diddy.
Thank you, lad!
+2
The only correct way to play Joni's version.
Quite easy if you try, only open chords.
It's the picking that makes the sound and melody then.
Thanks for sharing.
+1
This is a very nice version. Thanks to DiddyD for another fine effort. I'm a fan of his contributions here!
+1
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