The circle of fifths
The circle of fifths arranges all twelve keys in a circle so that each step clockwise is a fifth higher and adds one sharp. Each step counter-clockwise is a fifth lower and adds one flat. Once you can picture it, key signatures, relative minors and the chords that belong together all fall out of the same pattern.
How to read it
- Start at C at the top, with no sharps or flats.
- Clockwise, add sharps: G has 1 sharp, D has 2, A has 3, and so on. Each new key is a perfect fifth above the last (C → G → D → A…).
- Counter-clockwise, add flats: F has 1 flat, B♭ has 2, E♭ has 3. Each step is a fifth below (C → F → B♭ → E♭…).
- The inner ring shows each key’s relative minor, which shares the same key signature: C major and A minor both have no sharps or flats.
- At the bottom the two sides meet. B and C♭, F♯ and G♭, D♭ and C♯ sound the same but are spelled differently. That’s why there are 15 major key signatures for 12 sounds.
Why it’s useful
- Key signatures: the number of steps from C is the number of sharps or flats.
- Order of sharps and flats: reading the circle clockwise from F gives the order of sharps (F C G D A E B); counter-clockwise from B gives the order of flats (B E A D G C F).
- Chords that go together: a key’s neighbours on either side are its IV and V chords. In C major, F (IV) and G (V) sit on each side of C, which is why I–IV–V sounds so natural.
- Changing key: neighbouring keys differ by just one note, so moving to a neighbour sounds smooth.
All 15 major keys
| Major key | Signature | Sharps or flats | Relative minor |
|---|---|---|---|
| C major | no sharps or flats | — | A minor |
| G major | 1 sharp | F♯ | E minor |
| D major | 2 sharps | F♯ C♯ | B minor |
| A major | 3 sharps | F♯ C♯ G♯ | F♯ minor |
| E major | 4 sharps | F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ | C♯ minor |
| B major | 5 sharps | F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ | G♯ minor |
| F♯ major | 6 sharps | F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ E♯ | D♯ minor |
| C♯ major | 7 sharps | F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ E♯ B♯ | A♯ minor |
| F major | 1 flat | B♭ | D minor |
| B♭ major | 2 flats | B♭ E♭ | G minor |
| E♭ major | 3 flats | B♭ E♭ A♭ | C minor |
| A♭ major | 4 flats | B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ | F minor |
| D♭ major | 5 flats | B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ | B♭ minor |
| G♭ major | 6 flats | B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ C♭ | E♭ minor |
| C♭ major | 7 flats | B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ C♭ F♭ | A♭ minor |
Reading about it is a start. Ten minutes of practice a day makes it automatic.
Practice the circle of fifths →