Circle of fifths
Explore every key: its signature, scale, relative minor and chords.
Tap a key on the wheel. Outer ring: major keys. Inner ring: their relative minors. Moving clockwise adds a sharp; counter-clockwise adds a flat.
C major · A minor
Chords in the key
What is the circle of fifths?
The circle of fifths arranges the twelve keys so that each one is a perfect fifth above the previous one. Neighboring keys share all but one note, so the circle shows at a glance which keys are closely related, how many sharps or flats each key has, and which chords sound natural together.
How musicians use it
- Find the key signature of any key: count the steps from C.
- Find the relative minor: it sits right inside each major key.
- Build progressions: the chords on either side of a key (IV and V) are its strongest partners.
- Transpose and modulate smoothly by moving to a neighboring key.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remember the order of sharps and flats?
Sharps: F C G D A E B (“Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle”). Flats are the same order backwards: B E A D G C F.
What is a relative minor?
The minor key that uses exactly the same notes as a major key. It starts on the sixth note of the major scale: A minor is the relative minor of C major.