Sep232022

5 Seconds Of Summer – Carousel Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

ChordsC Am F Em

KeyKeyCapo

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[Intro]
C

[Verse 1]
                    C
I built it from the ground up
                          Am
 just to watch me burn it down
                 C
I gotta keep the party goin',
                 Am
 ain't no fadin' out
F
My life's just a carousel
spinnin' around
  Am
I pay again just to keep
from stoppin' it now
                 C
I try to keep my head above
                 Am
 the ocean of my doubt
                   C
I'm feeling like a dreamer,
                        Am
 don't ya try to wake me now
F
My life's just a carousel
spinnin' around
  Am
I pay again just to keep
from stoppin' it now

[Chorus]
C
Lookin' for myself in the
passenger's side
C
Drivin' to the edge till
I get this right
Am
Tryna find the city with
the brightest lights
F
How you gonna get there,
get there?
C
Always lookin' back and
I don't know why
C
Something always there
in the back of my mind
Am
Everybody's livin'
 on a one-way ride
F                                   C
How you gonna get thеre, get therе?

[Verse 2]
                  C
I feel like I'm a tiger in the
                  Am
circus, breathe again
             C
Every time I jump it's gettin'
               Am
 higher, never ends
    F
Oh, my life's just a
carousel spinnin' around
  Am
I pay again just to keep
from stoppin' it now

[Chorus]
C
Lookin' for myself in the
 passenger's side
C
Drivin' to the edge till
I get this right
Am
Tryna find the city with
 the brightest lights
F
How you gonna get there,
 get there?
C
Always lookin' back and
I don't know why
C
Something always there
in the back of my mind
Am
Everybody's livin'
on a one-way ride
F
How you gonna get thеre,
            C
 get therе?

[Instrument]
C Em C Em
Am C F
C Em C Em
Am C F

[Outro]
 C Em F  Am C F
(Ah,     ah)
C                Em
My life's just a carousel
          F
 spinnin' around
  Am                C
I pay again just to keep
                  F
 from stoppin' it now
C                Em
My life's just a carousel
          F
spinnin' around
  Am                C
I pay again just to keep
                 F   C
from stoppin' it now

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How to play Carousel: key, chords and progression

These are Carousel chords by 5 Seconds Of Summer on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

Carousel by 5 Seconds Of Summer is centred on C major (no sharps or flats). The song uses 4 chords: C, Am, F and Em.

Most of the song cycles through Am – C – Am – F (vi – I – vi – IV in C major). In solfa, that is lah – doh – lah – fah. Get these 4 changes smooth and the rest comes quickly.

Good to know: F is the tricky part on guitar (barre or movable shapes). Slow the change down until it is clean; on piano and ukulele it is simpler.