There are four ways to use the Circle of Fifths: One is for working out which sharps and flats are in a particular key (the key signature), and three are for composition. One point clockwise of that (“2 ‘o’ clock”) is “D” because the scale of G Major is: G (1st), A (2nd), B (3rd), C (4th), D (5th), E (6th), F# (7th), and so on. For example, the top point (“12 ‘o’ clock”) is the key of “C”, so one point clockwise (“1 ‘o’ clock”) is the key of “G” because G is the fifth note in the scale of C Major (C – 1st, D – 2nd, E – 3rd, F – 4th, G – 5th, A – 6th, B – 7th). Moving clockwise, each point of the clock face represents the next key, which is the fifth note of the key before it, hence the name “Circle of Fifths”. The letters in the dark blue ring are the major keys, and the letters in the inner, light blue ring are their relative minor keys. The numbers in the outermost ring tell you how many sharps or flats (black notes) are in each key. The Circle of Fifths is divided up into 12 slices (like a clock face). Right Click and “Save As” How to read it: If you want to skip the part about how the circle is constructed and jump straight to making chord sequences, click here. It can also be used to work out which keys and chord progressions work well with each other. You can use it as a guide for quickly programming in melodies, harmonies, bass lines and chords into your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) in specific keys. It was further refined in the 1670s by the composer and theorist Nikolai Diletskii. The original concept was drawn-up by the Greek scholar and philosopher Pythagoras in the 6th century B.C, as a way of dissecting musical tuning for all to understand. The Circle of Fifths is a circular diagram that shows the sharps and flats (black notes) in each musical key, and how different keys work in relation to one another (for more info on musical scales and keys, check this post). If you want to quickly find which chords work together, or which notes to use, this little circular diagram can be your best friend… It might sound like an ancient brotherhood of knights, but the “Circle of Fifths” is actually a really useful tool in music composition.
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