Circle of fifths

Circle of fifths: common questionsCircle of fifths: common questions

What is the circle of fifths?What is the circle of fifths?

A circle of the 12 major keys, each a fifth above the one before: C, G, D, A, E, B, F sharp, D flat, A flat, E flat, B flat, F and back to C. Each major has its relative minor beside it. Going clockwise, each key has one more sharp or one fewer flat in its key signature. Going anticlockwise, each has one more flat or one fewer sharp.A circle of the 12 major keys, each a fifth above the one before: C, G, D, A, E, B, F, D, A, E, B, F and back to C. Each major has its relative minor beside it. Going clockwise, each key has one more sharp or one fewer flat in its key signature. Going anticlockwise, each has one more flat or one fewer sharp.

What order do sharps and flats come in?What order do sharps and flats come in?

Sharps are always added in the order F sharp, C sharp, G sharp, D sharp, A sharp, E sharp, B sharp: “Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle”. Flats come in the same order backwards, B flat, E flat, A flat, D flat, G flat, C flat, F flat: “Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father”.Sharps are always added in the order F, C, G, D, A, E, B: “Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle”. Flats come in the same order backwards, B, E, A, D, G, C, F: “Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father”.

How do I work out a key from its key signature?How do I work out a key from its key signature?

With sharps, the major key is a semitone above the last sharp: three sharps end on G sharp, so it’s A major. With flats, the major key is the second-to-last flat: three flats are B flat, E flat and A flat, so it’s E flat major. One flat is F major, and no sharps or flats is C major. Each key signature is also shared by a minor key, its relative minor.With sharps, the major key is a semitone above the last sharp: three sharps end on G, so it’s A major. With flats, the major key is the second-to-last flat: three flats are B, E and A, so it’s E major. One flat is F major, and no sharps or flats is C major. Each key signature is also shared by a minor key, its relative minor.

How do I find the relative minor of a major key?How do I find the relative minor of a major key?

Go down three semitones from the major key’s first note, or up to the 6th note of its scale. The relative minor of C major is A minor, and of G major is E minor. A major key and its relative minor share the same key signature.Go down three semitones from the major key’s first note, or up to the 6th note of its scale. The relative minor of C major is A minor, and of G major is E minor. A major key and its relative minor share the same key signature.

Why are F sharp and G flat at the same place on the circle?Why are F and G at the same place on the circle?

On the piano they’re the same notes, written two ways: F sharp major has six sharps and G flat major has six flats. Keys that sound the same but are spelled differently are called enharmonic. B major and C flat major are another pair, and so are D flat major and C sharp major. This circle shows one spelling of each.On the piano they’re the same notes, written two ways: F major has six sharps and G major has six flats. Keys that sound the same but are spelled differently are called enharmonic. B major and C major are another pair, and so are D major and C major. This circle shows one spelling of each.

How does the circle of fifths help with practice?How does the circle of fifths help with practice?

Learning scales in order round the circle means each new key changes only one note from the last, so you build up the sharps or flats one at a time. Keys next to each other also share several chords, which helps when you’re working out a piece or improvising.Learning scales in order round the circle means each new key changes only one note from the last, so you build up the sharps or flats one at a time. Keys next to each other also share several chords, which helps when you’re working out a piece or improvising.