Comments on: Understanding The Circle of Fifths

By: Erik Thiede

Erik Thiede — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:10:32 +0000

Hi Cameron! You say “in the Key of F#/Gb (Major Scale) there are only 5 flats or sharps“…There are actually 6 flats/ sharps not 5…

You say “Major Scale Gb (F#) Major – Gb Ab Bb B Db Eb F (only 5)?” but technically, in terms of music theory, there is no “B” in the Major Gb scale.

It’s actually a called “Cb” not “B” (although “Cb” is enharmonic with “B” & “B” is usually how you’d say it in music theory). Scales are part of music theory, so here’s the Gb Major scale: Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F

By: Cameron

Cameron — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 03:21:53 +0000

Hi, Thanks for a wonderful explanation. The circle of 5ths/4ths is a stumbling block for many, me included. The clock metaphor is awesome as it really brings your eye into the concept. The is one part I am still struggling with though!

In the Key of F#/Gb (Major Scale) there are only 5 flats or sharps, so why does the circle of 5ths show 6 #/b’s?

Major Scale Gb (F#) Major – Gb Ab Bb B Db Eb F (only 5)?

By: Erik Thiede

Erik Thiede — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:15:36 +0000

Thank you! Learning piano is a life long enjoyment

By: rj

rj — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:37:46 +0000

Wonderfully formatted, thanks for sharing; an invaluable tool for teaching (as well as continuing to learn!)

By: Erik Thiede

Erik Thiede — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 22:26:54 +0000

This depends on what sounds good to you and the music genre…There are many common chord progressions (2-5-1, 1-4-5, etc). Find out chord progressions of the songs you like and play around…

By: Erik Thiede

Erik Thiede — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 22:22:57 +0000

If you go clockwise, the steps are perfect 5ths and the key signature is represented with sharps (#s).

But you usually have #s from C to C# (you could keep going and represent everything using #s but that gets messy and no one does that)

If you go counterclockwise, the steps are perfect 4ths and the key signature is represented with flats (b’s).

But you usually have b’s from F to Cb (you could keep going and represent everything using b’s but that gets messy and no one does that)

By: David

David — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 10:25:49 +0000

I guess I’m prone to be lazy but I was hoping this would simply be:
FCGDAEB 5th intervals and contain only the sharps!…but F has a flat??

then…

BEADGCF 4th intervals and only contain flats ??

Everyone

Thanks in advance

David

By: anj107

anj107 — Mon, 23 May 2011 22:44:37 +0000

i need help i dont understand what chord comes next in a song an i been teaching my self an bought many books an for 4years now i cant get it some times i think chord progressions will teach me thenwith out fillin they dont sound good so i want to give up ut i love the piano an refuse to give up i can do a few songs but someone showed me th chords to use please help me i want to no how chords blend together to make music

By: Erik Thiede

Erik Thiede — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 07:05:37 +0000

Thanks, Stephen! I’m in school and haven’t had time to correct these typos…I corrected this section

By: Stephen

Stephen — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:40:20 +0000

“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.”

If I may, the statements I quoted above, taken from the “relative keys” area in this articel are incorrect. According to the Circle of Fifths: Bb is relative to G minor, D is relative to B minor, Eb is relative C minor, and I am not sure what to say about A# (as Bb it is relative to G minor).