Circle of Fifths

Explore key relationships, discover scales and chords, and master music theory with our interactive Circle of Fifths.

Tonic (I)

Dominant (V)

Subdominant (IV)

C Major

Key Signature

No sharps or flats

Subdominant (IV)

Relative Minor

Dominant (V)

Scale Notes

Diatonic Chords

Click to play

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What is the Circle of Fifths?

The Circle of Fifths is a visual representation of the relationships between the 12 tones of the chromatic scale. It's one of the most important tools in music theory, helping musicians understand key signatures, chord progressions, and harmonic relationships.

Moving clockwise around the circle, each key is a perfect fifth higher than the previous one. Moving counter-clockwise, each key is a perfect fourth higher (or a fifth lower). This pattern reveals the natural relationships between keys and is essential for understanding harmony in Western music.

Moving Clockwise

• Each key adds one sharp
• Keys are a perfect 5th apart
• G → D → A → E → B → F♯
• Dominant direction (V chord)

Moving Counter-Clockwise

• Each key adds one flat
• Keys are a perfect 4th apart
• F → B♭ → E♭ → A♭ → D♭ → G♭
• Subdominant direction (IV chord)

Relative Major and Minor Keys

The inner ring shows the relative minor key for each major key (or relative major when in minor mode). Relative keys share the same key signature but have different tonal centers. For example, C major and A minor both have no sharps or flats, but they sound distinctly different because they center on different notes.

The relative minor is always located three half-steps below its relative major. This relationship is fundamental for understanding key modulations and chord substitutions in music composition.

Practical Tips

1.Use adjacent keys (I-IV-V) for the most common chord progressions in popular music.
2.Modulate to nearby keys on the circle for smooth key changes in your compositions.
3.Remember: sharps go right (clockwise), flats go left (counter-clockwise).
4.Keys opposite each other on the circle are called "tritone substitutes" and create maximum contrast.