Close To You

by The Carpenters
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Lyrics

Why do birds sud den ly ap pear,

ev ’ry time

you are near?

Just like me,

they long to be, close to you.

That is why all the girls in town

fol low you

all a round;

just like me,

they long to be, close to you.

Just like me,

they long to be, close to you.

Close To You by The Carpenters

21 people have learned this song

Easy piano arrangement in the key of G at 120 BPM. Difficulty: beginner. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

Teacher’s notes

This arrangement is a great way to settle into the key of G major and get comfortable with smooth, flowing chord transitions at a moderate 120 BPM.

Your left hand uses an octave bass pattern, so focus on landing those octaves cleanly — keep your hand relaxed and let your pinky and thumb do the stretching without tensing your wrist.

Your right hand carries that iconic melody, which sits mostly in a comfortable five-finger position but does ask you to shape gentle, singing phrases, so think about pressing into each note with a little weight rather than poking at the keys.

I'd suggest learning hands separately first: get the left-hand octave pattern steady and almost automatic before layering the melody on top.

The trickiest moment for most students is keeping the bass rhythm even while the melody holds longer notes — slow it down to about 80 BPM until both hands feel independent, then gradually bring it up to tempo.

A little sustain pedal, changed with each new bass note, will give you that warm, romantic sound the song needs.

This is the piece that'll teach you to trust your left hand without watching it, and that's a skill you'll use in everything you play next.

About “Close To You

What key is "Close To You" in?
"Close To You" by The Carpenters is in the key of G with a tempo of 120 BPM. Difficulty: beginner.
Is "Close To You" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this arrangement is rated beginner, meaning it uses simple chord patterns and a manageable tempo. Most beginners can play through it in 1-3 practice sessions using our color-coded notes.
Can I play "Close To You" without reading sheet music?
Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.
How long does it take to learn "Close To You" on piano?
1–3 short practice sessions for the basics; 2–3 weeks to perform confidently with both hands.

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