7/29/2019 01-05-TheCircleOfFifths

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1.5 The Circle of Fifths

LearnMusicTheory.net

C major

a minor

The circle of fifths is a common way to arrange the keys such that each key movingclockwise starts on the fifth note of the preceding key.

Notice:1. Moving clockwise adds a sharp (or takes away a flat).

2. Moving counter-clockwise adds a flat (or takes away a sharp).3. There are three pairs ofenharmonic keys at the bottom of the chart (D =C , G =F , B=C ). Enharmonic = played the same on the piano keyboard, but written differently.

4. Major keys are listed outside the circle, with minor keys inside. Minor scales arediscussed on the "Minor Scales" page.

Although the circle of fifths is an interesting way to visualize key relationships, there is ashortcut that is much faster for memorizing them. See the "Learning Major Key Signatures" page.

F

d e

G

B

g bD

E c

Circle

ofFifthsf A

Af c

E

D

b

C

a g

B

a

C

Copyright 2010 by Mark Feezell. All Rights Reserved.

(Enharmonic keys shown in one box.)

e

G F

d