Circus artwork

Circus

Britney Spears

KeyF♯ minor
Tempo115 BPM
Duration3:11

Rhodes melody, piano & acoustic guitar.

Song map

INTROClick a line to play from there
SONG NOTES

Questions about this song

Answers from our automatic transcription. Key, tempo and chord labels may contain errors.

What key is Circus by Britney Spears in?

This transcription starts in F♯ minor.

What tempo is Circus?

The estimated tempo is 115 BPM, calculated from the median spacing between detected beats. This is a summary of the transcription; timing can vary during the song.

What are the main chord progressions in Circus?

Recurring four-chord sequences in this transcription include F♯m → Emaj/3 → G → F♯m (6 occurrences); Emaj/3 → G → F♯m → Emaj/3 (5 occurrences); G → F♯m → Emaj/3 → G (5 occurrences). These are exact chord-label matches within sections, not a complete harmonic analysis.

What are the relative chords in Circus?

Here are a few patterns to play with: i → VII/3 → ♭II → i in F♯ minor; VII/3 → ♭II → i → VII/3 in F♯ minor; ♭II → i → VII/3 → ♭II in F♯ minor. Think of Roman numerals as chord names you can take into any key. Uppercase is major, lowercase is minor; in minor keys, we count from the natural-minor scale.

Does Circus use a well-known chord progression?

Yes! In F♯ minor: The minor four-chord pop progression (VI → III → VII → i) shows up in the pre-chorus at 0:37 and 1:42. The familiar pop loop with its moodier chord in the spotlight.

What time signature is Circus in?

The transcription starts in 4/4.

How is Circus structured?

The detected sections are intro (0:00) → verse (0:08) → pre-chorus (0:33) → chorus (0:52) → verse (1:13) → pre-chorus (1:38) → chorus (1:55) → bridge (2:16) → chorus (2:32).

How long is this version of Circus?

The transcribed version lasts 3:11. Other recordings or edits may have a different duration.

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