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How to Play the Circle of Fifths

The circle of fifths is a system for learning and memorizing the key signatures used in composing and performing music. When illustrated, it resembles the face of a watch, with C at twelve o'clock. Moving up by fifths, it reads clockwise for sharp keys, with each new key adding one more sharp. Moving up by fourths (or down by fifths), you can read it counterclockwise for flat keys, with each new key adding one more flat. The keys around the dial are: 12 = C, 1= G, 2 = D, 3 = A, 4 = E, 5 = B/C-flat, 6 = F-sharp/G-flat, 7 = C-sharp/D-flat, 8 = A-flat, 9 = E-flat, 10 = B-flat and 11 = F. By traveling around the circle of fifths, you will be on your way to becoming a better musician.

Things You'll Need

  • Musical instrument
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Instructions

    • 1

      Play a C note on any instrument. C is the tonic (first note) in the key of C which has no sharps or flats. Move up a perfect fifth (which sounds like "so," in "do-re-mi-fa-so"). The fifth note of the C scale is G, and the key of G has one sharp: F-sharp.

    • 2

      Play the G note again. G is the tonic (first note) in the key of G which has one sharp: F-sharp. Move up a perfect fifth (which sounds like "so," in "do-re-mi-fa-so"). The fifth note of the G scale is D, and the key of D has two sharps: F-sharp and C-sharp.

    • 3

      Play the D note again. D is the tonic (first note) in the key of D which has two sharps: F-sharp and C-sharp. Move up a perfect fifth (which sounds like "so," in "do-re-mi-fa-so"). The fifth note of the D scale is A, and the key of A has three sharps: F-sharp, C-sharp and G-sharp.

    • 4

      Continue in this manner until you arrive at seven o'clock on the circle of fifths and the key of C-sharp, as no key has more than seven sharps or flats. Return to C on the circle of fifths and your instrument.

    • 5

      Play the C note again. C is the tonic (first note) in the key of C which has no sharps or flats. Move up a perfect fourth (which sounds like "fa," in "do-re-mi-fa"). The fourth note of the C scale is F, and the key of F has one flat: B-flat. (Although you are moving up in fourths on the musical scale, you are playing counterclockwise on the circle of fifths.)

    • 6

      Play the F note again. F is the tonic (first note) in the key of F which has one flat: B-flat. Move up a perfect fourth (which sounds like "fa," in "do-re-mi-fa"). The fourth note of the F scale is B-flat, and the key of B-flat has two flats: B-flat and E-flat.

    • 7

      Play the B-flat note again. B-flat is the tonic (first note) in the key of B-flat which has two flats: B-flat and E-flat. Move up a perfect fourth (which sounds like "fa," in "do-re-mi-fa"). The fourth note of the B-flat scale is E-flat, and the key of E-flat has three flats: B-flat, E-flat and A-flat.

    • 8

      Continue in this counterclockwise manner until you arrive at five o'clock on the circle of fifths and the key of C-flat, as you will have reached your limit of seven flats.

    • 9

      Repeat the entire process again, over time, until you have the key signatures memorized.

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