Understanding The Circle of
Fifths
The circle of fifths, introduced by Johann David Heinichen in 1728,
is a visual arrangement of related keys. Although its name gives the
impression that it's a difficult concept to grasp, it's really just an
easy way to remember the number of sharps and flats in a key signature
and the major and minor key relationships.
Sharps and Flats
If you can imagine a clock for a moment, where each hour represents a
particular key, you can identify that key's sharps and flats. Let's say
that:
- 12:00 or "0:00" represents the C Major key (or the
A Minor key)...
-
1:00 represents the G Major key (or the E Minor key)...
- 2:00 represents the D Major key (or the B Minor key)...
-
3:00 represents the A Major key (or the F# Minor key)...
-
4:00 represents the E Major key (or the C# Minor key)...
-
5:00 represents the B Major key (or the G# Minor key)...
-
6:00 represents the F# Major key (or the Eb Minor key)...
-
7:00 represents the Db Major key (or the Db Minor key)...
-
8:00 represents the Ab Major key (or the F Minor key)...
-
9:00 represents the Eb Major key (or the C Minor key)...
-
10:00 represents the Bb Major key (or the G Minor key), and
-
11:00 represents the F Major key (or the D Minor key).
Perfect Fifths
If you'll notice, each hour (or key) is separated by a perfect fifth.
A perfect fifth is an interval made up of three whole steps and one half
step. For example, A perfect fifth above C is G, and a perfect fifth
above E is B. This is where the pattern gets its name from. It follows a
unique pattern on our imaginary clock where:
- ... the perfect fifth of the C Major key is G.
-
... the perfect fifth of the G Major key is D.
-
... the perfect fifth of the D Major key is A.
-
... the perfect fifth of the A Major key is E.
-
... the perfect fifth of the E Major key is B.
-
... the perfect fifth of the B Major key is F#.
-
... the perfect fifth of the F# Major key is C#.
-
... the perfect fifth of the C# Major key is G#.
-
... the perfect fifth of the G# Major key is D#.
-
... the perfect fifth of the D# Major key is A#.
-
... the perfect fifth of the A# Major key is F.
-
... the perfect fifth of the F Major key is C.
This pattern helps us determine the sharps and flats of a signature
because they're always a perfect fifth away. Just remember that sharps
increase in the clockwise direction while flats increase in the
counter-clockwise direction.
Related Keys
As an example, the C Major and A Minor keys are related because they
both lack sharps and flats. Based on the circle of fifths, we discover
that a single flat relates the F major key to the D minor key while a
single sharp relates the G major key to the E minor key as well. Two
flats relate the Bb key to the C major key while two sharps relate the D
major key to the C major key too. Three flats relate the Eb key to the C
major key while three sharps relate the A sharp key to C major key.
Starting to see a pattern? The concept is of course easier to understand
with a visual.
Click on
image to enlarge the circle of fifths chart
The Enharmonic Notes
The 5:00, 6:00, and 7:00 hours are unique in that they help you
identify similar or equal notes.
- "5:00" can either be B Major (G# Minor) with five sharps
(from the clockwise perspective) or Cb Major (Ab Minor) with seven
flats (from the counter-clockwise perspective).
- "6:00" can either be F# Major (D# Minor) with six sharps
(from the clockwise perspective) or Gb Major (Eb Minor) with six
flats (from the counter-clockwise perspective).
- Lastly, "7:00" can either be C# Major (A# Minor) with
seven sharps (from the clockwise perspective) or Db Major (Bb Minor)
with five flats (from the counter-clockwise perspective).
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