The circle of fifths is a visual representation of the 12 tones of the chromatic scale, arranged in perfect fifth intervals, forming a circle. While it might initially appear as a simple diagram, the circle of fifths is a powerful tool for guitarists. It reveals fundamental relationships between musical pitches and organizes them in a way that significantly enhances your understanding of diatonic harmony, key signatures, chord progressions, and more on the guitar.
Understanding the Notes Within the Circle of Fifths
The circle of fifths encompasses all 12 notes of the chromatic scale:
A – A#/B♭ – B – C – C#/D♭ – D – D#/E♭ – E – F – F#/G♭ – G – G#/A♭
The name “circle of fifths” comes from the fact that each note in the sequence is a perfect fifth apart from its neighbor.
Visually, the circle of fifths is often depicted with two concentric rings: an outer ring and an inner ring. Let’s explore both rings and uncover the valuable information they provide for guitarists.
Alt text: The complete Circle of Fifths diagram, showing major keys in the outer ring and relative minor keys in the inner ring, with key signatures indicated.
Constructing the Circle of Fifths: A Step-by-Step Guide for Guitarists
The outer ring of the circle of fifths is crucial for guitarists as it represents each of the 12 major keys in music.
Moving clockwise around the circle, you ascend by a perfect fifth with each subsequent note. Conversely, moving counter-clockwise descends by a perfect fifth. Interestingly, moving counter-clockwise is also known as the circle of fourths because if you move forward through the scale from the starting note, the next note is a perfect fourth interval away.
For instance, starting from C and counting up a perfect fourth, we arrive at F:
C – D – E – F – G – A – B
While navigating counter-clockwise and thinking in fourths might seem slightly less intuitive at first, many guitarists find it easier because it follows the alphabetical order, which feels more natural.
Let’s begin building our circle of fifths, moving clockwise around the circle, a direction essential for understanding sharp keys on the guitar.
Building the Outer Circle Clockwise: Sharps and Major Keys
Starting at the top of the circle with C, and moving clockwise, each following note is a perfect fifth higher. Let’s examine the C major scale as a reference:
C D E F G A B
| Interval | Root | Major 2nd | Major 3rd | Perfect 4th | Perfect 5th | Major 6th | Major 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | C | D | E | F | G | A | B |
As shown, the 5th degree of the C major scale is G. Now, let’s start with G and build its major scale:
G A B C D E F#
| Interval | Root | Major 2nd | Major 3rd | Perfect 4th | Perfect 5th | Major 6th | Major 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | G | A | B | C | D | E | F# |
Again, the 5th degree of the G major scale is D, which is the next note clockwise in the circle.
Continuing this pattern around the circle, we generate the following sequence:
| Interval | Root | Major 2nd | Major 3rd | Perfect 4th | Perfect 5th | Major 6th | Major 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | D | E | F# | G | A | B | C# |
| Notes | A | B | C# | D | E | F# | G# |
| Notes | E | F# | G# | A | B | C# | D# |
| Notes | B | C# | D# | E | F# | G# | A# |
| Notes | F# | G# | A# | B | C# | D# | E# |
| Notes | C# | D# | E# | F# | G# | A# | B# |
Notice an important pattern emerges as we progress clockwise from C major.
C major, at the top, has no sharps or flats in its key signature. However, as we move clockwise around the circle, each subsequent major scale adds one sharp to its key signature. C major has zero sharps, G major has one sharp, D major has two sharps, and so on. This is crucial for understanding key signatures on the guitar.
The sequence of added sharps is consistent and predictable, as shown below:
| Key | # of Sharps | Sharps in Key Signature |
|---|---|---|
| C | 0 | – |
| G | 1 | F# |
| D | 2 | F#, C# |
| A | 3 | F#, C#, G# |
| E | 4 | F#, C#, G#, D# |
| B | 5 | F#, C#, G#, D#, A# |
| F# | 6 | F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E# |
| C# | 7 | F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B# |
Each new major scale in the clockwise direction retains all the sharps from the previous scale and adds a new sharp, which is always the 7th degree of the current major scale. For example, G major has F#, which is the 7th degree of the G major scale. D major includes F# and adds C#, its 7th degree, and so forth.
This sequence of sharps makes the circle of fifths an invaluable tool for quickly determining the key signature of any sharp key. Moving clockwise, you instantly know the number of sharps and the specific notes that are sharp in each major key.
By C# major, we’ve accumulated all seven possible sharps in a major scale. Now, let’s explore moving counter-clockwise around the circle to see the pattern with flat keys, equally important for guitarists.
Building the Outer Circle Counter-Clockwise: Flats and Major Keys
Using the same approach, moving counter-clockwise around the circle takes us down a perfect fifth (or up a perfect fourth) with each step. Starting with F major, we construct its major scale:
F G A B♭ C D E
| Interval | Root | Major 2nd | Major 3rd | Perfect 4th | Perfect 5th | Major 6th | Major 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | F | G | A | B♭ | C | D | E |
C is the 5th degree of the F major scale, confirming our movement down a fifth as we go counter-clockwise.
Continuing counter-clockwise, we get the following progression:
| Interval | Root | Major 2nd | Major 3rd | Perfect 4th | Perfect 5th | Major 6th | Major 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | B♭ | C | D | E♭ | F | G | A |
| Notes | E♭ | F | G | A♭ | B♭ | C | D |
| Notes | A♭ | B♭ | C | D♭ | E♭ | F | G |
| Notes | D♭ | E♭ | F | G♭ | A♭ | B♭ | C |
| Notes | G♭ | A♭ | B♭ | C♭ | D♭ | E♭ | F |
| Notes | C♭ | D♭ | E♭ | F♭ | G♭ | A♭ | B♭ |
Did you notice the emerging pattern for flat keys? With each key moved counter-clockwise, a flat is added to the key signature. F major has one flat, B♭ major has two flats, and so on. The sequence of flats is summarized below:
| Key | # of Flats | Flats in Key Signature |
|---|---|---|
| F | 1 | B♭ |
| B♭ | 2 | B♭, E♭ |
| E♭ | 3 | B♭, E♭, A♭ |
| A♭ | 4 | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭ |
| D♭ | 5 | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭ |
| G♭ | 6 | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭ |
| C♭ | 7 | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭ |
This provides a quick method for guitarists to determine key signatures for flat keys using the circle of fifths. On this side of the circle, we are dealing with flats instead of sharps.
Enharmonic Equivalents: Simplifying Key Choices on Guitar
At the bottom of the circle, you’ll see pairs of notes in each segment. These are enharmonic notes, meaning they represent the same pitch but are named differently. This naming convention is crucial for adhering to the structure of major scales, where each letter name is used once, with sharps or flats added as necessary.
C♭ is enharmonically equivalent to B:
| Interval | Root | Major 2nd | Major 3rd | Perfect 4th | Perfect 5th | Major 6th | Major 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | B | C# | D# | E | F# | G# | A# |
| Notes | C♭ | D♭ | E♭ | F♭ | G♭ | A♭ | B♭ |
G♭ is enharmonically equivalent to F#:
| Interval | Root | Major 2nd | Major 3rd | Perfect 4th | Perfect 5th | Major 6th | Major 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | G♭ | A♭ | B♭ | C♭ | D♭ | E♭ | F |
| Notes | F# | G# | A# | B | C# | D# | E# |
D♭ is enharmonically equivalent to C#:
| Interval | Root | Major 2nd | Major 3rd | Perfect 4th | Perfect 5th | Major 6th | Major 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | D♭ | E♭ | F | G♭ | A♭ | B♭ | C |
| Notes | C# | D# | E# | F# | G# | A# | B# |
Which enharmonic key should you choose on guitar? While they sound the same, it’s generally easier to use the key with fewer sharps or flats, simplifying reading and playing.
For example, when choosing between C# and D♭, D♭ is often preferred because C# major has seven sharps, while D♭ major has only five flats. This choice can significantly impact the ease of reading and playing music on the guitar.
The Inner Circle: Relative Minors and Guitar Harmony
The inner circle of the circle of fifths displays the relative minor keys corresponding to the major keys in the outer circle. Relative minors are invaluable for guitarists as they share the same key signature as their relative major counterpart. This means they use the exact same notes and chords, just with a different tonal center.
Alt text: Circle of Fifths highlighting relative minor keys in the inner ring, demonstrating their relationship to major keys and shared key signatures.
Relative minor keys are found on the 6th degree of the major scale. To find the relative minor of any major key, simply count up to the 6th note of its major scale.
| Degree | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes in C Major | C | D | E | F | G | A | B |
| Notes in G Major | G | A | B | C | D | E | F# |
As we’ll see, this relationship between relative majors and minors provides a very practical application of the circle of fifths for guitarists in understanding chord progressions and songwriting.
Practical Guitar Applications: Utilizing the Circle of Fifths
We’ve already touched upon one crucial application: determining key signatures for both sharp and flat keys. This alone makes the circle of fifths a powerful tool for any guitarist learning music theory.
However, perhaps the most practically useful aspect of the circle of fifths for guitarists is its ability to quickly reveal all the diatonic chords within a given key. The circle neatly organizes this information, making it easy to visualize and apply to your playing.
Let’s explore how to find chords within a key using the circle of fifths.
Finding Chords Within a Key: Building Blocks for Guitarists
Let’s start with the key of C major, located at the top of the circle. To find the primary major chords in C major, we look at C and its immediate neighbors on the circle. The note to the right of C (clockwise) is G, which represents the V chord (dominant) in C major. The note to the left of C (counter-clockwise) is F, representing the IV chord (subdominant) in C major.
Alt text: Circle of Fifths focused on C major, highlighting F (IV chord), C (I chord), and G (V chord) as the major chords in the key of C.
These three chords—F, C, and G—are the foundational major chords in the key of C.
| Major Chords in C Major |
|---|
| IV |
| F |
Now, let’s incorporate the inner circle of relative minors. For each of these major chords in C major, we can find their corresponding relative minor chords from the inner circle:
Alt text: Circle of Fifths showing the relative minor chords in C major: Dm (ii chord), Am (vi chord), and Em (iii chord).
This gives us the ii (Dm), iii (Em), and vi (Am) minor chords in the key of C major.
| Minor Chords in C Major |
|---|
| ii |
| Dm |
By combining the key center note (C), its clockwise and counter-clockwise neighbors (G and F), and their relative minors, we’ve identified six out of the seven diatonic chords in the key of C major.
Alt text: Circle of Fifths visually grouping the major and minor chords in a key, illustrating the pattern for finding diatonic chords.
The only remaining diatonic chord is the diminished chord, which occurs on the 7th degree of the major scale. In C major, this is the B diminished (Bdim) chord.
On the circle of fifths, the diminished chord is located directly opposite the IV chord (F).
Alt text: Circle of Fifths notating all seven diatonic chords in the key of C major, including major, minor, and diminished chords.
This pattern of finding diatonic chords holds true for every key around the circle of fifths, providing a consistent and reliable method to quickly identify the chords in any major key on the guitar.
Looking closer, you’ll notice another pattern emerging that reveals all diatonic chords in C major. Starting with the major chords F, C, and G, and continuing clockwise around the circle, the next notes are D, A, and E. The minor chords built on these notes (Dm, Am, Em) are exactly the minor chords in the key of C.
Moving clockwise from F, we can list the chords in the key of C in order:
| Chord Function | IV | I | V | ii | vi | iii | vii° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chord in C Major | F | C | G | Dm | Am | Em | Bdim |
This sequence then connects to the diminished chord built on the 7th degree of the C major scale, Bdim, completing the set of all diatonic chords in C major.
Alt text: The complete Circle of Fifths diagram illustrating all diatonic chords in the key of C major, showcasing the interconnectedness of chords within a key.
Again, this comprehensive pattern is consistent across the entire circle. You can apply it to any major key to quickly access all its diatonic chords, which is incredibly useful for songwriting, improvisation, and understanding chord progressions on the guitar.
For an alternative tool, consider exploring The Chord Wheel. It’s a practical reference tool based on the circle of fifths, offering another visual way to understand chord relationships.
Memorizing the Circle of Fifths: Exercises for Guitarists
While not strictly necessary, memorizing the circle of fifths can be immensely beneficial, especially when a reference chart isn’t readily available. One effective exercise, particularly useful for guitarists, is to use the circle to learn the notes on the guitar fretboard.
With this exercise, systematically work through each note in the circle, and locate all instances of that note across the guitar fretboard. You can time yourself, spending a minute focusing on each note.
Vary your starting points on the circle and practice moving both clockwise and counter-clockwise. Over time, this method will not only help you internalize the circle of fifths but also significantly improve your fretboard knowledge, a win-win for any guitarist!
Conclusion: Unleashing the Power of the Circle of Fifths on Guitar
The circle of fifths is more than just a diagram; it’s a fundamental tool that unlocks deeper insights into diatonic harmony and music theory for guitarists. It simplifies key signature determination and provides a clear roadmap to the chords within any major key. While we’ve focused on these two essential applications in this lesson, the circle of fifths is rich with further information and patterns waiting to be discovered. Dedicate time to exploring it, and you’ll undoubtedly uncover more valuable relationships and applications to enhance your guitar playing and musical understanding.
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