Circle of Fifths
Learn musical keys and chords with the Circle of Fifths. Understand key relationships and progressions.
Major Keys (outer circle)
Minor Keys (middle circle)
🎼 Key Information
C Major
Scale:
CDEFGAB
Chords in the Key:
I
C
C - E - G
ii
Dm
D - F - A
iii
Em
E - G - B
IV
F
F - A - C
V
G
G - B - D
vi
Am
A - C - E
vii°
B°
B - D - F
Key Signature:
No alterations
Relative Keys:
📖 How to Use the Circle of Fifths
🎯 What is the Circle of Fifths?
The Circle of Fifths is a diagram that shows the relationships between the 12 keys of Western music. Each key is a perfect fifth apart from the previous one (7 semitones).
🎼 How to Read It:
- Outer Circle: Major keys
- Middle Circle: Relative minor keys
- Clockwise: Add a sharp (#)
- Counterclockwise: Add a flat (♭)
💡 Practical Uses:
🎵 Modulations
Keys close together on the circle are easy to modulate to
🎹 Composition
Find chords that work well together
📝 Music Theory
Understand key signatures and accidentals
🎸 Improvisation
Discover which scales to use over certain chords
🔍 Interactivity:
- Click on a key: View scales, chords and information
- Click on the notes: Hear the sounds
- Click on the chords: Hear the chords of the key
- Relative keys: Click to change quickly
💡 Pro Tip: Keys with the same number of accidentals (sharps or flats) are particularly compatible for transitions and harmonic progressions!