MixMasterAI logoMixMasterAI
Sign in

Circle of Fifths

Tap a key to see its relative minor, key signature, chords and common progressions.

CAmGEmDBmAF♯mEC♯mBG♯mF♯/G♭D♯m/E♭mD♭B♭mA♭FmE♭CmB♭GmFDmCAm

Key

C major

Relative minor: A minor

Key signature: No sharps or flats

Chords in the key

  • IC
  • iiDm
  • iiiEm
  • IVF
  • VG
  • viAm
  • vii°Bdim

Common progressions

  • I – V – vi – IV

    C – G – Am – F

  • ii – V – I

    Dm – G – C

  • vi – IV – I – V

    Am – F – C – G

  • I – IV – V – I

    C – F – G – C

How to read the circle

  1. 1

    Clockwise adds a sharp

    Each step clockwise moves up a perfect fifth and adds one sharp: C, G, D, A, E, B, F♯.

  2. 2

    Anticlockwise adds a flat

    Each step anticlockwise moves up a perfect fourth and adds one flat: C, F, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭.

  3. 3

    Inner ring is the relative minor

    Each minor key shares its key signature with the major key beside it. A minor and C major use the same notes.

  4. 4

    Neighbours are related

    Keys next to each other differ by one note, so changing key to a neighbour sounds smooth.

The progressions explained

  • I – V – vi – IV

    The most common progression in pop. In C: C, G, Am, F.

  • ii – V – I

    The standard cadence in jazz. In C: Dm, G, C. With 7th chords it becomes Dm7, G7, Cmaj7.

  • vi – IV – I – V

    The same four chords as I–V–vi–IV starting on the minor chord, which gives a more serious feel. In C: Am, F, C, G.

  • I – IV – V – I

    The basis of blues, rock and roll, folk and country. In C: C, F, G, C.

What the circle is useful for

  • Finding a key signature

    Count the steps from C. E is four steps clockwise, so E major has four sharps: F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯.

  • Writing chord progressions

    In any major key the I, IV and V chords sit side by side on the circle, and the ii, iii and vi chords are the minor keys inside them.

  • Changing key

    Moving to the key one step clockwise or anticlockwise changes only one note, so it is the easiest key change to make sound natural.

Questions about the circle of fifths

Why is the bottom of the circle labelled F♯/G♭?

F♯ major (6 sharps) and G♭ major (6 flats) sound the same and are both used. Both spellings are shown. The chords for this key are listed in F♯.

What is a relative minor?

The minor key that uses the same notes as a major key. It starts on the 6th note of the major scale, three semitones below the major key's root. The relative minor of G major is E minor.

Why are the sharps always in the same order?

Each new key adds the next sharp a fifth higher: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯. Flats follow the reverse order: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭.

Can I use the arrow keys?

Yes. Tab to the circle and use the arrow keys to move between keys. Press Enter or Space to select a key.

Is the circle of fifths tool free?

Yes. It runs in your browser with no account. The progressions are played with the Web Audio API on your device.

Explore more.