Circle of Fifths
Keys, signatures & chords
Outer ring: major keys. Inner ring: their relative minors. Tap any key.
C major
About the Circle of Fifths
The circle of fifths arranges all 12 keys so that neighbours are a fifth apart. Going clockwise adds a sharp to the key signature; going anticlockwise adds a flat. Tap any major key on the outer ring or minor key on the inner ring to see its key signature, every note of its scale (spelled correctly, so F♯ major shows E♯), its relative major or minor, and the seven chords that belong to the key. Play the scale or any chord, and see why the neighbouring keys (the IV and V chords) sound so natural together.
- Tap a key on the outer ring (major) or inner ring (minor).
- Read its key signature, scale and relative key.
- Play the scale or tap a chord to hear it; use the neighbours for chord progressions.
Frequently asked
What is the circle of fifths?
A diagram of the 12 keys arranged so each step clockwise is a perfect fifth higher and adds one sharp (or removes a flat). It shows key signatures, relative minors and which keys and chords are closely related.
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 backwards: B E A D G C F (Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles' Father).
What is a relative minor?
The minor key that shares the same notes and key signature as a major key. It starts on the 6th note of the major scale: A minor is the relative minor of C major.
How do songwriters use the circle of fifths?
Chords next to each other on the circle sound good together. In C, the neighbours F and G are the IV and V chords, and the inner ring gives the minor chords Am, Dm and Em.
Is what I type sent to a server?
No. The tool runs entirely in your browser and there's no server behind it, so what you type never leaves your device and nothing is stored. You can check: it keeps working if you go offline after the page has loaded.
More from the Music drawer
Other tools kept in this drawer, plus a few favourites from the bench.