#TAB021 - Round and Round
Free Tabs + Pro Tips
Round and Round
Difficulty Level: ⭐️
Song: Round and Round
Genre: Korean/Movie
Movie: Squid Game Season 2
Tuning: Standard (EADGBe)
Capo: None
BPM: 105 (Compound Time)
Personal Take
Squid Game is all over my social media right now—and I couldn’t resist joining the hype! 🎉
Today, we’re talking about the song that plays during the Mingle Game in Episode 6 of Squid Game Season 2.
I heard this song before starting the series, and I thought, “Wow, this is so cute and catchy—it sounds like a Korean nursery rhyme!”
But once I realized it was from Squid Game, the vibe completely changed. Suddenly, the lighthearted tune felt much darker and more emotional.
Music like this is fascinating—it carries different meanings depending on the context. So let’s break it down and learn to play it on guitar!
Vocal Melody
Time Signature
If you noticed, I labeled this as a Compound Time piece at the beginning of the article. But what does that mean?
Unlike regular Simple Time (like 4/4, which has four beats in a bar), Compound Time groups beats into sets of three.
For example, in this song, we’re in 6/8 time, meaning there are six quavers (eighth note) per bar, grouped as two sets of three.
This gives the song its distinctive rhythmic feel—more flowing and waltz-like than simple 4/4.
So, we are gonna count like “1 2 3 4 5 6” instead of “1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +”.
I have explained why I chose "1 2 3 4 5 6" over "1 + a 2 + a" in the previous article!
↓↓↓ If you are curious about it, please check it out! ↓↓↓
On the other hand, notice the tempo marking in the red frame: it’s a dotted crotchet (quarter note) = 105 BPM. That means the song moves at a speed of 105 dotted crotchets per minute.
Tip: Don’t confuse a dotted crotchet with a regular crotchet! The dot adds half the value of the note.
Left Hand (LH) Position
Again, like what I said from the previous article, scan the entire tab to find the smallest and largest fret numbers BEFORE PLAYING. This will help you figure out where your hand needs to move.
In this song, there are two main positions:
5th–8th fret for most of the song.
8th–11th fret for bars 25–36.5.
By knowing this ahead of time, you can avoid unnecessary hand shifts and play more smoothly.
Slur
Btw if you do not know what slur is, just a quick explanation:
A slur is a technique where you connect notes smoothly without re-plucking the string. On the guitar, this is done by hammering on and pulling off.
In this arrangement, you’ll find a 3-note slur in bars 37–38. Here’s how to play it:
Place your index finger on the 6th fret and your ring finger on the 8th fret.
Pluck the 8th fret, pull off to the 6th fret, and then hammer on back to the 8th fret.
These notes are semiquavers (16th notes), so you’ll need to play them quickly.
Repetition
One thing that makes this song easier to learn is the repetitive structure.
Take a quick glance at the score, and you’ll notice several repeated sections:
Bars 1–2 are the same as bars 3–4.
Bars 1–8 are identical to bars 17–24.
Try finding more repeated patterns—they’ll make learning the song much faster and easier!
Are you as excited as I am for the final season of Squid Game? It’s thrilling to see how this iconic series is wrapping up!
I hope you enjoy playing this catchy tune with its unique rhythms. Let me know in the comments if you found the arrangement helpful, and don’t forget to share your thoughts on Squid Game Season 2!
Happy playing, and as always, have fun with your guitar journey! 🎸✨
PS: What’s the #1 thing that made you want to check out this newsletter? Reply and let me know, I READ EVERY REPLY!
Vocal Melody:
