Click on the inner circles to hear chords. Click on the outer circle to hear related scales Try making chord progressions
It seems the system of music notation was deliberately designed to confuse. I mean, why all those sharps and flats? Why all odd intervals between some notes and not others? The Circle of fifths has symmetry, and that can help you make sense of notation. Plus, it gives you some hints as to great chord progressions!
The Circle of Fifths is a visual tool used in music theory that helps musicians understand the relationships between different keys and scales. It represents the 12 notes of the chromatic scale, arranged in a circle, with each note spaced by a perfect fifth interval from its neighbors. The concept was first introduced in the 17th century by German musician and composer Johann David Heinichen, and it has since become a fundamental tool for both composers and performers across genres.
The best way to learn the circle of fifths, not just a chart,this is is an interactive player that allows you to play and hear actual chords - great for making chord progressions!
At its core, the Circle of Fifths is a diagram with 12 points, one for each note in the chromatic scale. Moving clockwise around the circle, each step represents a progression by a perfect fifth (7 semitones). For example, starting on C, the next note is G (a perfect fifth higher), followed by D, A, and so on, until the circle returns to C.
The outer circle usually represents the major keys, while an inner circle (if included) often shows the corresponding relative minor keys. The relative minor key shares the same key signature as its major counterpart but starts on the 6th degree of the major scale. For example, A minor is the relative minor of C major.
The Circle of Fifths is important for several reasons. It serves as a valuable reference for understanding key signatures, chord relationships, modulations, harmonic progressions, and more. Below are some specific reasons why it’s crucial:
The Circle of Fifths is often used to memorize key signatures. As you move clockwise around the circle, each key adds one sharp to its key signature. Conversely, moving counterclockwise adds flats. For example, C major has no sharps or flats, G major has one sharp, D major has two sharps, and so on. Moving counterclockwise, F major has one flat, B♭ major has two flats, and so forth.
The circle helps musicians quickly determine the key signature for any given major or minor key and serves as a visual mnemonic for remembering which notes are sharp or flat in each key.
The Circle of Fifths provides a roadmap for understanding harmonic relationships between keys. Chords that are adjacent to each other on the circle are closely related harmonically, meaning they share many common notes. For example, C major and G major are closely related because the chords share several common tones (C, E, G). This proximity makes transitions between these chords sound smooth and natural, which is why composers often move between adjacent chords when writing harmonic progressions.
In many genres of music, modulation (changing from one key to another) is an essential compositional tool. The Circle of Fifths makes it easy to find closely related keys to modulate to. If a piece of music is in the key of C major, for instance, it’s common to modulate to G major or F major, which are adjacent on the circle. These key changes feel natural because the keys are harmonically close. More distant modulations, like from C major to F♯ major, would be more jarring but can be effective for certain musical effects.
The Circle of Fifths is often used to craft common chord progressions in music, particularly in Western classical, jazz, and popular music. One of the most popular progressions is the I-IV-V progression, where the I chord (tonic), IV chord (subdominant), and V chord (dominant) are used. On the Circle of Fifths, these chords are easily identified because they lie close to each other. In C major, for example, the I chord is C major, the IV chord is F major, and the V chord is G major.
The V-I cadence, a powerful resolution in Western music, is also illustrated clearly by the Circle of Fifths. The V chord resolves naturally to the I chord because the tonic and dominant keys are closely related.
For musicians learning scales and chords, the Circle of Fifths provides an intuitive way to understand how different keys are connected. Improvising musicians, particularly in jazz and blues, use the circle to inform their improvisation. The Circle of Fifths is also commonly used to understand the blues progression, which moves through the I-IV-V chords.
In Jazz, for instance, the Circle of Fifths helps players navigate ii-V-I progressions, where the ii chord (minor), V chord (dominant), and I chord (tonic) form a standard jazz progression.
There are multiple ways to use the Circle of Fifths, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced musician. Here are some practical applications:
For beginners, the Circle of Fifths is often introduced as a tool for memorizing key signatures. Each step clockwise adds a sharp, while each step counterclockwise adds a flat. By using the circle, you can quickly identify which notes are sharp or flat in any given key.
clockwise you go up by 5ths down by 4ths
This means you can always identify a key signatures containing flats by the second to last flat e.g. Db key has a Db before the last Gb
Conversely, anti-clockwise you go down by 5ths, up by 4ths. To determine the major key, all you have to do it go one half-step up from the last sharp listed.
Relative minor keys are often important in musical compositions, particularly when creating contrast. The relative minor of any major key can be found directly inside the circle. For example, the relative minor of C major is A minor. They share the same key signature (no sharps or flats), but the mood changes depending on whether the piece is in major or minor.
When composing or arranging, the Circle of Fifths can be used to select chords that will flow naturally together. Moving between adjacent chords in the circle creates smooth, pleasing transitions. For example, in a song in C major, moving to G major or F major feels natural. This concept can also be applied to writing modulations between keys.
Advanced musicians often use the Circle of Fifths to plan modulations. To modulate smoothly between keys, you can follow the circle in small steps. For instance, modulating from C major to A minor or G major will sound more natural than modulating to a more distant key like B major.
Jazz and blues musicians often use the Circle of Fifths to structure their improvisations. It helps them understand which chords to expect next and which scales to use over certain chord progressions. For instance, in jazz standards, musicians often encounter the ii-V-I progression, and understanding the relationship between these chords helps in improvising solos.
The Circle of Fifths is a fundamental tool in music theory that helps musicians understand the relationships between keys, chords, and scales. It provides a visual representation of how keys are related and is used in a variety of ways, from memorizing key signatures to creating smooth chord progressions and modulating between keys. By mastering the Circle of Fifths, musicians can gain a deeper understanding of harmonic structure and unlock new possibilities for composition, improvisation, and performance.
See also: Chords the circle of fifths