Circle of Fifths
Click any key to highlight it and jump straight to the scale in the Scale Explorer. The outer ring shows major keys; the inner ring shows their relative minors.
Outer ring = major keysInner ring = relative minors
Key Signatures at a Glance
| Key | Sig | Notes | Relative minor |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | — | C D E F G A B | A minor |
| G | 1♯ | G A B C D E F♯ | E minor |
| D | 2♯ | D E F♯ G A B C♯ | B minor |
| A | 3♯ | A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯ | F♯ minor |
| E | 4♯ | E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯ | C♯ minor |
| B | 5♯ | B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯ | G♯ minor |
| F♯ | 6♯ | F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E♯ | D♯ minor |
| D♭ | 5♭ | D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C | B♭ minor |
| A♭ | 4♭ | A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G | F minor |
| E♭ | 3♭ | E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D | C minor |
| B♭ | 2♭ | B♭ C D E♭ F G A | G minor |
| F | 1♭ | F G A B♭ C D E | D minor |
How to Read the Circle
Moving clockwise adds a sharp to the key signature (each key is a perfect 5th above the previous). Moving counterclockwise adds a flat (each key is a perfect 4th above, or 5th below). Keys that sit side by side on the circle share six of their seven notes, they sound closely related and chords borrow between them naturally.
The I–IV–V chord progression that underpins most of Western music sits on three adjacent positions. In C major, those are C (12 o'clock), F (11 o'clock), and G (1 o'clock).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the circle of fifths?
The circle of fifths is a diagram showing all 12 major keys arranged so that each key is a perfect fifth above the previous one going clockwise (or a perfect fifth below going counterclockwise). It reveals key signatures, relative minor keys, and how closely related any two keys are.
How do guitarists use the circle of fifths?
Guitarists use it to find related chords (I–IV–V always sit next to each other on the circle), to understand key signatures, to find the relative minor of any major key, and to make sense of chord progressions that modulate between keys.
What are relative minors?
Every major key shares the same notes with a natural minor key starting on the 6th degree. That minor key is called the relative minor. For example, C major and A minor contain identical notes, the inner ring of the circle of fifths shows the relative minor for each major key.
Why do adjacent keys on the circle sound similar?
Adjacent keys differ by only one sharp or flat. C major has no sharps or flats; G major has one sharp (F♯); D major adds D♯. Because they share so many notes, chord progressions that move between neighbouring keys sound smooth and natural.