Interactive Circle of Fifths
The circle of fifths arranges all 12 keys around a wheel. Going clockwise, each step moves up a fifth (C, G, D, A...) and adds one sharp to the key signature; going counterclockwise, each step moves up a fourth (C, F, B♭, E♭...) and adds one flat. The major keys sit on the outer ring and their relative minors, which share the same key signature, on the inner ring.
How to use it
- Tap a key: majors on the outside (C, G, D...), minors on the inside (Am, Em, Bm...). The scale plays and the panel shows the key signature, the scale and the chords.
- The highlighted segments around it are the chords of the key: I, IV and V on the outside, ii, iii and vi on the inside, and vii° right next to them.
- Tap the chords in the panel to hear them. With 7ths turns them into seventh chords (C7M, which is Cmaj7, then Dm7, G7...); Play cadence plays I–IV–V–I.
- On a computer, Tab moves to the wheel, ← and → turn it, ↑ and ↓ switch between major and minor, and Enter plays the scale.
- Print / PDF creates a black-and-white A4 page with just the wheel and the key signature table. For a PDF, choose "Save as PDF" instead of a printer.
Help and explanations
Here the wheel is interactive: tap a key and it lights up together with its neighbors, which make up the chords of that key. The scale plays, the key signature appears on the staff and the seven chords show up in the panel, each one sounding when you tap it. To study on paper, use Print / PDF.
What the circle of fifths is for
It tells you at a glance how many sharps or flats a key has, what its relative minor is, which chords go together and where it is easy to modulate. Neighboring keys differ by only one note, so moving to the dominant (one step clockwise) or to the subdominant (one step counterclockwise) sounds natural.
On guitar and ukulele, the wheel helps you transpose and memorize the chords of each key: the three major chords of a key sit side by side (IV, I, V) and the three minor chords right below them. In G major: C, G and D on the outside, Am, Em and Bm on the inside, plus F♯°.
Order of sharps and flats
Sharps are always added in this order: F, C, G, D, A, E, B ("Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle"). Flats come in reverse order: B, E, A, D, G, C, F. A quick trick: with sharps, the key is a half step above the last sharp (F♯ → G major); with flats, it is the next-to-last flat (B♭ E♭ → B♭ major).
At the bottom of the wheel are the enharmonic keys, same pitch with different names: B = C♭, F♯ = G♭ and D♭ = C♯ major. The panel has a button to show the other spelling.
Relative minors and the harmonic minor
Every major key has a relative minor three half steps below it, with the same key signature: C major and A minor, G major and E minor. Minor keys usually take their dominant from the harmonic minor scale (seventh degree raised a half step): in A minor, E or E7 instead of Em. The panel shows that chord separately, with a dashed border.
Tips
- To memorize it, start with the keys that have few accidentals (C, G, D, F, B♭) and work your way around the wheel in both directions.
- To transpose, turn the wheel: every chord moves the same number of steps. C, F and G become D, G and A.
- Pick a key, play the cadence and try to spot the I, the IV and the V in a song you know.
- To see the chord shapes on guitar, cavaquinho, ukulele or piano, the link at the bottom of the panel opens chords in a key for the key you picked.
- When printing, turn off "Headers and footers" in the browser's print options so the page comes out clean.
Frequently asked questions
What is the circle of fifths?
A wheel with the 12 keys in which each neighbor, going clockwise, is a fifth higher. It shows key signatures, relative minors and which keys share the most notes.
Is the circle of fifths the same as the circle of fourths?
Yes. It is the same wheel read in the other direction: counterclockwise, each step is a fourth. Some books also call it the cycle of fifths.
How do I print the circle of fifths or save it as a PDF?
Tap Print / PDF: you get one A4 page with the wheel and the key table. For a PDF, choose "Save as PDF" as the printer.
How do I find the relative minor of a major key?
Go down three half steps from the tonic: C → A, G → E, D → B, F → D. On the wheel, it sits right below the major key.
How many sharps are in E major?
Four: F♯, C♯, G♯ and D♯, the same key signature as C♯ minor. The table below the wheel lists all 15 major keys.
How does the circle of fifths help find the chords in a key?
The chords of a major key are the key itself and its two neighbors: I, IV and V on the outside, ii, iii and vi on the inside. Only the vii° falls outside that window.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. The wheel fits the screen, the sound plays through the speaker and there is nothing to install.