Circle of Fifths
Click any key to see its key signature, relative minor, and the seven diatonic chords. Hear how it sounds — no plugins, no signup.
Pick any key around the circle.
Outer ring = major keys. Inner ring = relative minors.
What the Circle of Fifths shows you
Each step = a perfect 5th up
Starting from C at the top and moving clockwise, each next key is a perfect fifth higher than the last (C → G → D → A...). Counter-clockwise, each step is a perfect fourth higher (or a fifth lower).
Key signatures stack predictably
Every clockwise step adds one sharp. Every counter-clockwise step adds one flat. C major has zero, G major has one sharp, D major has two, and so on. This is why the circle is the foundation of music notation.
Adjacent keys share most notes
C major and G major differ by only one note (F vs F#). This closeness is why moving between adjacent keys in a piece sounds smooth (the V chord of C is G), and why distant keys feel like a real harmonic shift.
Every major key has a relative minor
The inner ring shows each major key’s relative minor — same key signature, different tonal center. C major and A minor share zero sharps and flats. They’re harmonically tied at the hip.
Want to actually use this in your playing?
Music theory only sticks when you apply it to your instrument. Book a private lesson and we’ll connect the circle to the pieces you’re working on.
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