The circle of fifths

The circle of fifths is the single most useful diagram in music theory. It arranges all twelve keys so you can see, at a glance, how many sharps or flats each one has, which minor key it shares a signature with, and which chords sound good together. Here it is — free to print or download.

What is the circle of fifths?

The circle of fifths lays out the twelve notes of music not in a straight line, but in a ring ordered by perfect fifths. Starting from C at the top and moving clockwise, every note is a fifth higher than the last: C, G, D, A, E, B, and so on all the way around and back to C. That ordering is powerful because keys that sit next to each other on the circle are closely related — they share almost all of their notes.

How to read the circle

• Outer ring — major keys. The twelve major keys, from C at the top.
• Inner ring — relative minors. Each major key’s relative minor sits just inside it (C major / A minor, G major / E minor…). They share the same key signature.
• Edge numbers — key signatures. How many sharps (clockwise, right-hand side) or flats (anticlockwise, left-hand side) the key has.

Clockwise adds sharps and raises the key by a fifth; anticlockwise adds flats and lowers it by a fifth. At the bottom the two directions meet at the enharmonic keys — F♯ (6 sharps) is the same set of pitches as G♭ (6 flats).

How to use the circle of fifths

1. Count the sharps or flats. Start at C (12 o’clock). Each step clockwise adds one sharp (G has 1, D has 2, A has 3…); each step anticlockwise adds one flat (F has 1, B♭ has 2, E♭ has 3…). The number on the outer ring is that key’s key signature.
2. Find the relative minor. The inner ring shows each major key’s relative minor — the minor key that shares its key signature. C major and A minor sit in the same segment, G major and E minor, and so on.
3. Build the main chords of a key. A key and its two neighbours give you its three primary chords. For C: F (one step anticlockwise) is the IV chord and G (one step clockwise) is the V chord. Those three chords harmonise most simple songs.
4. Write a chord progression. Moving one step anticlockwise around the circle (V → I) is the strongest resolution in music — it is the perfect cadence. Progressions that walk around the circle, like vi–ii–V–I, sound satisfying because each chord is a fifth apart.
5. Change key smoothly. Neighbouring keys differ by just one sharp or flat, so they are the easiest keys to modulate between. To brighten a song, move one step clockwise; to darken it, move anticlockwise.

Key signatures at a glance

The circle is the fastest way to recall a key signature. Sharps are added in the order F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ E♯ B♯ (clockwise), and flats in the mirror order B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ C♭ F♭ (anticlockwise). If you want to write music in any of these keys, print someblank staff paper or open themusic paper generator and add the key signature yourself.

Relative minors

Every major key has a relative minor three semitones below it that uses exactly the same notes — C major and A minor, or G major and E minor. The inner ring pairs them up, which makes it easy to switch between a bright major sound and its darker minor cousin without changing key signature. Once you know a key, try itspiano chords, guitar chords andscales.

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