Circle of fifths
Click a key to see its signature, scale and chords. Tap a chord to hear it.
How to read the circle of fifths
Start at C major at the top, which has no sharps or flats. Moving clockwise, each key is a fifth higher (C → G → D → A…) and adds one sharp. Moving counterclockwise, each key is a fifth lower, or a fourth higher (C → F → B♭ → E♭…), and adds one flat.
What musicians use it for
- Key signatures: count steps from C to know how many sharps or flats a key has.
- Finding chords that fit: in any major key, the chords on either side of it (IV and V) and the three minors on the inner ring beneath (ii, iii, vi) are the key's six main chords.
- Changing key smoothly: neighboring keys share six of seven notes, so moving one step around the circle sounds natural.
- Chord progressions: moving counterclockwise gives strong root movement, as in the ii–V–I of jazz standards or the circle progression vi–ii–V–I.
Order of sharps and flats
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharps | F♯ | C♯ | G♯ | D♯ | A♯ | E♯ | B♯ |
| Flats | B♭ | E♭ | A♭ | D♭ | G♭ | C♭ | F♭ |
Questions
What is the circle of fifths?
A diagram of the 12 major and minor keys arranged so each key is a perfect fifth above the one before it, going clockwise. Neighboring keys share all but one note.
How do you remember the order of sharps and flats?
Sharps are added in the order F C G D A E B ('Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle'). Flats are the same letters backwards: B E A D G C F.
How do you find the relative minor?
The relative minor sits on the inner ring directly beneath the major key. It starts on the sixth note of the major scale and has the same key signature: C major and A minor, G major and E minor.
Why do some keys have two names?
At the bottom of the circle, keys like F♯ major and G♭ major sound the same but are written with six sharps or six flats. Composers pick whichever is easier to read.