Circle of fifths

I believe the circle of fifths is just the fifth chords in the key that you are playing in.

LIke in the key of C: C-G-D-A-E-B just the fifth chord down the line. I may be wrong on this, but it's my understanding of it.

1.C 2.D 3.E 4.F 5.G you always include the first chord when counting.

Here is the circle of 5ths. G is the 5th of C, D is the 5th of G and so forth.

C
F G

Db B
F#


Here is a table of the different keys:

Major Relative Key I ii iii IV V vi vii°
Key Minor Signature 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
----------------------------------------------------------------
C major A minor C D E F G A B
G major E minor # G A B C D E F#
D major B minor ## D E F# G A B C#
A major F# minor ### A B C# D E F# G#
E major C# minor #### E F# G# A B C# D#
B major G# minor ##### B C# D# E F# G# A#
F# major D# minor ###### F# G# A# B C# D# E#
F major D minor b F G A Bb C D E
Bb major G minor bb Bb C D Eb F G A
Eb major C minor bbb Eb F G Ab Bb C D
Ab major F minor bbbb Ab Bb C Db Eb F G
Db major Bb minor bbbbb Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C
Gb major Eb minor bbbbbb Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F
----------------------------------------------------------------

Note that it includes both F# and Gb even though they are enharmonic. Usually the one with the simpler key signature (fewer sharps or flats) is chosen, but F# and Gb both have 6.

Here is the circle of 5ths. G is the 5th of C, D is the 5th of G and so forth.
And there is an interesting issue. Note that G is the 4th of D, C is the 4th of G, F is the 4th of C, and so on. Thus, if you read the circle counterclockwise you get a circle of fourths.

The circle of fifths is very useful for transposing songs. If you know the key you easily can find the fourth, the fifth and the rest of chords in the target key.

A good way to learn (memorize) the circle is use it when you are practicing scales. Choose a scale (major, minor, pentatonic, etc.) and play it in each key by following the circle of fifths. For example, C major, G major, D major, etc.

I've recently made an interactive circle of fifths. Click on any key in the circle to see the scales and main chords (triads)associated with that key.
http://www.fretsource.com/Flash%20progs/Circle5th.html

And anyone else can check it for mistakes :wink:

I don't understand them very well either but I cheated and bought a Chord Wheel book to help transposing.

Fretsource, that's pretty cool!

I'll use it! Thank you very much!

:D

That's what I thought this was for? Say, taking a song in the Key of A and transposing it to G. Is it more than that?

Bob Jessie

Cycle of Fifths! At last: someone that's gonna get switched on BIG TIME!

Mel Bay has a chord book called "The Cycle of Fifths". There's also one just called "Chord Cycles". Nope...zero instruction in it...just heaps of cycles.

I can't stress more what a GREAT idea it is to have the mathmatics of cycles become second nature. In time...with practise...chord after chord will "appear" in a good emotional context as you improvise live...or write.

GLAD the penny dropped for ya! :wink:

Cat

I've recently made an interactive circle of fifths. Click on any key in the circle to see the scales and main chords (triads)associated with that key.
http://www.fretsource.com/Flash%20progs/Circle5th.html

And anyone else can check it for mistakes :wink:
Thank you so much for that tool. It's really cool. Very well done.

Two things that the circle of fifths is great for are helping you with ear training and helping you in "sight-hearing" playing situations. Say you're playing a song in the key of C and all of a sudden there's an E major chord or an E7. Chances are better than not that the next chord following will be the chord that the E is the fifth of, either A or Am. So getting used to how fifths resolve and hearing them in your head can help you in situations where you might not know the song. Your ear will be aiding you in making an educated guess where the song is heading, chord-wise.

Does it work all the time? No. But it works enough to make it much more than worth your while.

Peace

Yes, the circle of fifths is also the circle of fourths if you go the opposite direction.

In any major key the fifth is called the dominant, and the fourth the sub-dominant, in addition they are the only chords in a major key that are major.

1 = major
2 = minor
3 = minor
4 = major
5 = major (often with dominant 7th added)
6 = minor
7 = diminished

There are a lot of elementary theory books out there, consider buying one. A little basic theory will help you understand what you are doing on the guitar and that will help you be a better player.

Insights and incites by Notes.

... and it gives you the key signature.

clockwise you have sharps
C - 0
G - 1
D - 2
...

counterclockwise you have flats
C - 0
F - 1
Bb - 2
Eb - 3
...

... and it tells you where to put the sharps/flats (if you know where to start
first sharp is F#
second is C#
third is G#
...

first flat is Bb
second is Eb
third is Ab
...

So ... say, B major has 5 sharps and they are F#, C#, G#, D#, A#

... of course it works for minors as well start on A

A minor
E minor #
B minor ##

D minor b
G minor bb
C minor bbb

Very useful - just memorise it - yuo will need it one day - I guess there are plenty of ways of remember it in english Cows Go Down At Easter Because ... or what do I know

I've recently made an interactive circle of fifths. Click on any key in the circle to see the scales and main chords (triads)associated with that key.
http://www.fretsource.com/Flash%20progs/Circle5th.html

And anyone else can check it for mistakes :wink:

Omg, I actually love you... thats fantastic, been looking for something like that... I've got one sellotaped to my wall... but its a bit of a mess lol! Thanks :D

FYI

Two things that the circle of fifths is great for are helping you with ear training and helping you in "sight-hearing" playing situations.

So getting used to how fifths resolve and hearing them in your head can help you in situations where you might not know the song. Your ear will be aiding you in making an educated guess where the song is heading, chord-wise.

Does it work all the time? No. But it works enough to make it much more than worth your while.

Peace

You really need to be "ahead" of where you are playing from moment to moment. It ain't by no means easy...but...hey...what else have you got to do??? :lol:

Cat