Circle of fifths
Every major and minor key on one wheel: tap a key to see its key signature, scale, relative key and main chords, and hear them. For music theory students from Grade 1 up, and anyone writing songs.
- Key signature
- Scale
- Relative key
- Neighbours
- Primary chords
Clockwise, each key has one more sharp (or one less flat). Neighbours share all but one note.
How it works
The circle of fifths puts the twelve major keys round a circle, each a perfect fifth above the one before, with their relative minors inside. Going clockwise adds a sharp (or removes a flat). Choose any key to see its key signature on the stave, its scale, its relative key, its neighbours on the circle and its primary chords, and play the scale or the progression I IV V I.
- Tap a key on the outside ring for a major key, or the inside ring for a minor key.
- Read its key signature, scale and chords on the right.
- Press Play the scale or Play I IV V I to hear it.
- Use the arrow keys to move round the circle, and M to swap between major and minor.
- Look at the neighbours: they share all but one note.
Tips
- Keys next to each other are the easiest to change between in a piece.
- The order of sharps (F C G D A E B) is the circle read clockwise from F.
- At the bottom, F sharp and G flat are the same sound with different spellings.
FAQ
- What is the circle of fifths?
- A circle of the twelve keys, each a perfect fifth from the next. It shows how many sharps or flats each key has and which keys are closely related.
- How do I find a relative minor?
- It is on the inner ring, next to its major: the major key three semitones above, with the same key signature. A minor is the relative minor of C major.
- Why do some keys have two names?
- At the bottom the circle crosses from sharps to flats: F sharp major (6 sharps) sounds the same as G flat major (6 flats).
- What are primary chords?
- The chords on the 1st, 4th and 5th notes of the scale (I, IV and V). Together they harmonise most simple melodies.