The first diagram is the Circle of Fifths showing just the keys in the major chords and scales only. The Circle of Fifths or Circle of Fourths shows all of the 12 keys or notes.
The Circle of the Fifths is very useful for writing music. Next to each of these keys, it also shows how many sharps (#), and how many flats (b) for that particular keys as shown in this diagram below:
The Circle of the Fifths is very useful for writing music. Next to each of these keys, it also shows how many sharps (#), and how many flats (b) for that particular keys as shown in this diagram below:
As you may notice that each of the 12 keys is at the interval of fifths moving in the clockwise direction.
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For example, from C to G (G is the 5th key counting up from C on the keyboard), or G to D (D is the 5th key counting up from G on the keyboard), and so on. The interval of fifths has seven (7) semitones. |
If you move in the anti-clockwise direction, the next note to C is F. The distance between C to F has an interval of fourths.
| For example, F is the 4th key counting up from C on the keyboard, which has an interval of five (5) semi-tones. So, that is why Circle of Fifths is sometimes called Circle of Fourths. |
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The Circle of Fifths also identified the three primary chords of any key. In Lesson 10, we also have learned the three primary chords for each key.
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For example, the three primary chords for C Major are – C Chord, F Chord, and G Chord. (Notice that in the Circle of Fifths diagram, the key of C is surrounded by F and G). |
In the key of G, the three primary chords are: G Chord, C Chord, and D Chord (notice that in the Circle of Fifths diagram, the key of G is surrounded by C and D).
List of Three Primary Chords in all the 12 Keys:
List of Three Primary Chords in all the 12 Keys:
| In the Key of | Three Primary Chords |
| C | C, F, G |
| D | D, G, A |
| E | E, A, B |
| F | F, Bb, C |
| G | G, C, D |
| A | A, D, E |
| B | B, E, F# |
| F# or Gb | F#/Gb, B, Db |
| Ab | Ab, Db, Eb |
| Bb | Bb, Eb, F |
| Db | Db, Gb, Ab |
| Eb | Eb, Ab, Bb |
You can also use the Circle of Fifths to find the pentatonic scale in any keys. Starting from the Key C on the top of the circle, and going clockwise, the pentatonic scale in the key of C is C, G, D, A, E. If you put all the five notes in one octave, you will have C, D, E, G, A.
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If you transpose C, G, D, A, E into all black keys, it would be: Gb, Ab, Bb, Db, Eb (see Pentatonic Scale). |
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| Lesson 9 Playing Major Chords | Lesson 10 Three Primary Chords |
| Lesson 12 12 Keys of Music | Lesson 15 Chords of the Major Scale |
| Lesson 13 Major Scales | Lesson 14 Music Intervals |
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