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Circle of fifths
Tap a key on the circle: you'll see its key signature, its scale, its relative minor or major, the keys next to it and its chords.
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How the circle of fifths works
The circle of fifths puts the 12 major keys around a circle so that each one is a perfect fifth above the one before it, going clockwise: C, G, D, A, E, B, F♯… Each step clockwise adds one sharp to the key signature; each step counterclockwise (a perfect fourth up) adds one flat: C, F, B♭, E♭…
The inner ring shows the relative minor of each major key: the minor key that uses the same key signature. A minor sits under C major, E minor under G major, and so on. The relative minor always starts a minor third (three half steps) below its major key.
Why it's useful
- Key signatures: count the steps from C to know how many sharps or flats a key has.
- Related keys: the keys right next to each other share all but one note, so moving between them sounds smooth. The key a fifth up is the dominant; the key a fifth down is the subdominant.
- Chords: in a major key, the I, IV and V chords are the key itself and its two neighbors (in C major: C, F and G), and the three minor chords ii, iii and vi are their relative minors (Dm, Em and Am).
Keys with two names
At the bottom of the circle, three positions have two names for the same sound (enharmonic keys): B major (5 sharps) is C♭ major (7 flats), F♯ major (6 sharps) is G♭ major (6 flats), and D♭ major (5 flats) is C♯ major (7 sharps). That is where the sharp side and the flat side of the circle meet.
All keys on the circle
| Position | Major key | Minor key | Key signature | Accidentals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | C major | A minor | no sharps or flats | — |
| 1 | G major | E minor | 1 sharp | F♯ |
| 2 | D major | B minor | 2 sharps | F♯ C♯ |
| 3 | A major | F♯ minor | 3 sharps | F♯ C♯ G♯ |
| 4 | E major | C♯ minor | 4 sharps | F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ |
| 5 | B major / C♭ major | G♯ minor / A♭ minor | 5 sharps / 7 flats | F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ |
| 6 | F♯ major / G♭ major | D♯ minor / E♭ minor | 6 sharps / 6 flats | F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ E♯ |
| 7 | D♭ major / C♯ major | B♭ minor / A♯ minor | 5 flats / 7 sharps | B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ |
| 8 | A♭ major | F minor | 4 flats | B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ |
| 9 | E♭ major | C minor | 3 flats | B♭ E♭ A♭ |
| 10 | B♭ major | G minor | 2 flats | B♭ E♭ |
| 11 | F major | D minor | 1 flat | B♭ |
Frequently asked questions
What is the circle of fifths?
A diagram of the 12 major and minor keys arranged so that each key is a perfect fifth from its neighbor. It shows how many sharps or flats each key has and which keys are closely related.
Why is it called the circle of fifths?
Because each step clockwise moves up a perfect fifth (seven half steps): C to G, G to D, D to A. After 12 fifths you are back on C, which closes the circle.
How do I find the relative minor of a major key?
Look at the inner ring under the major key, or count three half steps down from its tonic: the relative minor of C major is A minor, and that of E♭ major is C minor. Both keys share the same key signature.
Which key has no sharps or flats?
C major and its relative minor, A minor, at the top of the circle.