Ref: Circle of Fifths

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Intervals Scales Circle of 5ths Fret Maps CAGED Charts Diatonic Chords Diatonic Keys Chord Fingerings Chord Naming Progressions Modes Counting Rhythm Arpeggios Reading Tab Other Notation Injury

 

Clock Visualization

Circle Scales Grid Enharmonic 5ths Note Changes Common Notes b/t Keys Harmony b/t Keys

 

So assuming C is "12 o'Clock", our circle of fifths looks like this:

F C G B♭ D E♭ A A♭ E D♭ G♭ B

Since the standard Western chromatic scale is composed of 12 notes, they match up to the 12 hours of an analog clock. Closely-related keys are adjacent, both clockwise and counter-clockwise, while the distantly-related keys are opposite (6 fifths (or "hours") apart).

Moving only clockwise and using strict naming for each P5, we require to start using sharps once we hit 6 o'clock. Notice that the sharp keys are enharmonic to the flat keys above. Here's the same visualization using sharp keys instead of flats:

E♯ C G A♯ D D♯ A G♯ E C♯ F♯ B

If we kept going, B♯ would be the next P5 we reach at 12 o'clock, enharmonic to C. We could keep going around and start using double, then triple sharps, and so on. On the other hand, if we move strict P4's going clockwise, we get the following:

F C A B♭ E E♭ B A♭ F♭ D♭ G♭ C♭

If we kept going, 12 o'clock would be D, and again, we'd be venturing into double and triple flats and beyond.

And if 12 o'clock is the root, the interval between root and each note is as follows:

	P4	R	P5
m7				M2
m3				M6
m6				M3
	m2	tt	M7

Notice the 2 intervals of equal distance from the root are inversions of each other (P4 - P5, m7 - M2, m3 - M6, m6 - M3, m2 - M7).

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Tables of fifths w/ scales

Major - C♭ to C♯

Circle Scales Grid Enharmonic 5ths Note Changes Common Notes b/t Keys Harmony b/t Keys

 

Major Natural Minor Harmonic Minor

 

Key	C♭	G♭	D♭	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯
Flats/ Sharps	7 ♭	6 ♭	5 ♭	4 ♭	3 ♭	2 ♭	1 ♭	0 ♭/♯	1 ♯	2 ♯	3 ♯	4 ♯	5 ♯	6 ♯	7 ♯
Uni	C♭	G♭	D♭	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯
2nd	D♭	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯
3rd	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯	A♯	E♯
4th	F♭	C♭	G♭	D♭	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯
5th	G♭	D♭	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯
6th	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯	A♯
7th	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯	A♯	E♯	B♯
Oct	C♭	G♭	D♭	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯

Notice the 4ths and 7ths - this is where the notes flatted/sharped when shifting keys up/down a fifth (or down/up a fourth).

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Natural Minor - A♭ to A♯

Circle Scales Grid Enharmonic 5ths Note Changes Common Notes b/t Keys Harmony b/t Keys

 

Major Natural Minor Harmonic Minor

 

Key	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯	A♯
Flats/ Sharps	7 ♭	6 ♭	5 ♭	4 ♭	3 ♭	2 ♭	1 ♭	0 ♭/♯	1 ♯	2 ♯	3 ♯	4 ♯	5 ♯	6 ♯	7 ♯
Uni	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯	A♯
2nd	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯	A♯	E♯	B♯
3rd	C♭	G♭	D♭	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯
4nd	D♭	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯
5rd	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯	A♯	E♯
6th	F♭	C♭	G♭	D♭	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯
7th	G♭	D♭	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯
Oct	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯	A♯

Notice the 2nds and 6ths - this is where the notes flatted/sharped when shifting keys up/down a fifth (or down/up a fourth).

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Harmonic Minor - A♭ to A♯

Circle Scales Grid Enharmonic 5ths Note Changes Common Notes b/t Keys Harmony b/t Keys

 

Major Natural Minor Harmonic Minor

 

Key	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯	A♯
Uni	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯	A♯
2nd	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯	A♯	E♯	B♯
3rd	C♭	G♭	D♭	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯
4nd	D♭	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯
5rd	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯	A♯	E♯
6th	F♭	C♭	G♭	D♭	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯
7th	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯	A♯	E♯	B♯	F	C	G
Oct	A♭	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯	A♯

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Fifths and equivalents

Circle Scales Grid Enharmonic 5ths Note Changes Common Notes b/t Keys Harmony b/t Keys

 

All columns are equivalent pitches. Each cell is a perfect fifth above the cell to its left.

E

B

F♭

C♭

G♭

D♭

A♭

E♭

B♭

F

C

G

D

D

A

E

B

F♭

C♭

G♭

D♭

A♭

E♭

B♭

F

C

C

G

D

A

E

B

F♯

C♯

G♯

D♯

A♯

E♯

B♯

B♯

F

C

G

D

A

E

B

F♯

C♯

G♯

D♯

A♯

A♯

E♯

B♯

F

C

G

D

A

E

B

F♯

C♯

G♯

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Rules and Guidelines

Circle Scales Grid Enharmonic 5ths Note Changes Common Notes b/t Keys Harmony b/t Keys

 

The 1.____ scale a perfect fifth 2.____ the current scale contains the same notes but the 3.___ in the current scale is 4.____ to become the 5.____ of the new scale.

1	2	3	4	5
major	above	P4	sharped	M7
minor	above	m6	sharped	M2
major	below	M7	flatted	P4
minor	below	M2	flatted	m6

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Equivalent Pitches for Scales Below/Above by Interval

Circle Scales Grid Enharmonic 5ths Note Changes Common Notes b/t Keys Harmony b/t Keys

 

Modulating from any major scale to a new major scale that is ___ interval above/below the original key has ___ same pitches and ♯/♭ per note:

Interval Above Root	Uni	m2	M2	m3	M3	P4	tt	P5	m6	M6	m7	M7
Interval Below Root	Uni	M7	m7	M6	m6	P5	tt	P4	M3	m3	M2	m2
Example Major Key vs C Major	C	C♯	D	D♯	E	F	F♯	G	G♯	A	A♯	B
Number of Common Pitches	7	2	5	4	3	6	2	6	3	4	5	2

Which means the most harmonic key changes are:

Common Notes	Diatonic Keys	Non-Diatonic Keys
6	P4, P5
5	M2	m7
4	M6	m3
3	M3	m6
2	M7	m2, tt

* Note: All intervals in above table are above the root note

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Harmonic Minor

Key	E♭	B♭	F	C	G	D	A	E	B	F♯	C♯	G♯	D♯
Notes in common w/ Ahm	4	3	4	4	3	4	7	4	3	4	4	3	4

Interval Above Root	Uni	m2	M2	m3	M3	P4	d5	P5	m6	M6	m7	M7
Interval Below Root	Uni	M7	m7	M6	m6	P5	d5	P4	M3	m3	M2	m2
Example Harm Minor Key vs A Harm Minor	A	A♯	B	C	C♯	D	D♯	E	F	F♯	G	G♯
Number of Common Pitches	7	3	3	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	3	3

Common Notes	Diatonic Keys	Non-Diatonic Keys
4	m3, P4, P5, m6	M3, d5, M6
3	M2, M7	m2, m7

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Harmony between Keys

Circle Scales Grid Enharmonic 5ths Note Changes Common Notes b/t Keys Harmony b/t Keys

 

From Major

to Major

From Major From Minor From Harm Minor Common Notes

 

to Major to Nat Minor to Harm Minor

 

Common Notes	Diatonic Keys	Non-Diatonic Keys	Example
6	P4, P5		C -> G
5	M2	m7	C -> D
4	M6	m3	C -> A
3	M3	m6	C -> E
2	M7	m2, d5	C -> B

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to Minor

From Major From Minor From Harm Minor Common Notes

 

to Major to Nat Minor to Harm Minor

 

Common Notes	Diatonic Keys	Non-Diatonic Keys	Example
7	M6		C -> Am
6	M2, M3		C -> Dm
5	P5, M7		C -> Gm
4	U	d5	C -> Cm
3	P4	m2	C -> Fm
2		m6, m7, m3	C -> A♭m

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to Harmonic Minor

From Major From Minor From Harm Minor Common Notes

 

to Major to Nat Minor to Harm Minor

 

Common Notes	Diatonic Keys	Non-Diatonic Keys	Example
6	M6		C -> Ahm
5	U, M2, M3		C -> Dhm
4	M7	d5, m7	C -> Bhm
3	P4, P5	m2, m3, m6	C -> Ghm

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From Minor

to Major

From Major From Minor From Harm Minor Common Notes

 

to Major to Nat Minor to Harm Minor

 

Common Notes	Diatonic Keys	Non-Diatonic Keys	Example
7	m3		Am -> C
6	m7, m6		Am -> G
5	P4	m2	Am -> D
4	U	d5	Am -> A
3	P5	M7	Am -> E
2	M2	M3, M6	Am -> B

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to Minor

From Major From Minor From Harm Minor Common Notes

 

to Major to Nat Minor to Harm Minor

 

Common Notes	Diatonic Keys	Non-Diatonic Keys	Example
6	P4, P5		Am -> Em
5	M2, m7		Am -> Bm
4	m3	M6	Am -> Cm
3	m6	M3	Am -> Fm
2		m2, d5, M7	Am -> E♭m

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to Harmonic Minor

From Major From Minor From Harm Minor Common Notes

 

to Major to Nat Minor to Harm Minor

 

Common Notes	Diatonic Keys	Non-Diatonic Keys	Example
6	U		Am -> Ahm
5	P4, P5		Am -> Dhm
4	m3, M2	M6, m2	Am -> Chm
3	m6, m7	M3, d5, M7	Am -> Fhm

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From Harmonic Minor

to Major

From Major From Minor From Harm Minor Common Notes

 

to Major to Nat Minor to Harm Minor

 

Common Notes	Diatonic Keys	Non-Diatonic Keys	Example
6	m3		Ahm -> C
5	m6	m7	Ahm -> F
4	U, M2	m2, d5	Ahm -> A
3	P4, P5, M7	M6, M3	Ahm -> D

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to Minor

From Major From Minor From Harm Minor Common Notes

 

to Major to Nat Minor to Harm Minor

 

Common Notes	Diatonic Keys	Non-Diatonic Keys	Example
6	U		Ahm -> Am
5	P4, P5		Ahm -> Dm
4	m3	M6, m7, m2	Ahm -> Cm
3	m6, M2	M3, d5, m2	Ahm -> Fm

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to Harmonic Minor

From Major From Minor From Harm Minor Common Notes

 

to Major to Nat Minor to Harm Minor

 

Common Notes	Diatonic Keys	Non-Diatonic Keys	Example
4	m3, P4, P5, m6	M3, d5, M6	Ahm -> Chm
3	M2, M7	m2, m7	Ahm -> Bhm

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Common Notes Table

From Major From Minor From Harm Minor Common Notes

 

Ordered by Half-Steps Key 2 Type Key 1 Type Key 2 Root's relation to Key 1 Root Major Minor Harmonic Minor Major U 7 4 5 m2 2 3 3 M2 5 6 5 m3 4 2 3 M3 3 6 5 P4 6 3 3 tt 2 4 4 P5 6 5 3 m6 3 2 3 M6 4 7 6 m7 5 2 4 M7 2 5 4 Minor U 4 7 6 m2 5 2 4 M2 2 5 4 m3 7 4 5 M3 2 3 3 P4 5 6 5 tt 4 2 3 P5 3 6 5 m6 6 3 3 M6 2 4 4 m7 6 5 3 M7 3 2 3 Harmonic Minor U 4 6 7 m2 4 3 3 M2 4 3 3 m3 6 4 4 M3 3 3 4 P4 3 5 4 tt 4 3 4 P5 3 5 4 m6 5 3 4 M6 3 4 4 m7 5 4 3 M7 3 3 3

Ordered by 5ths Key 2 Type Key 1 Type Key 2 Root's relation to Key 1 Root Major Minor Harmonic Minor Major U 7 4 5 P5 6 5 3 M2 5 6 5 M6 4 7 6 M3 3 6 5 M7 2 5 4 tt 2 4 4 m2 2 3 3 m6 3 2 3 m3 4 2 3 m7 5 2 4 P4 6 3 3 Minor U 4 7 6 P5 3 6 5 M2 2 5 4 M6 2 4 4 M3 2 3 3 M7 3 2 3 tt 4 2 3 m2 5 2 4 m6 6 3 3 m3 7 4 5 m7 6 5 3 P4 5 6 5 Harmonic Minor U 4 6 7 P5 3 5 4 M2 4 3 3 M6 3 4 4 M3 3 3 4 M7 3 3 3 tt 4 3 4 m2 4 3 3 m6 5 3 4 m3 6 4 4 m7 5 4 3 P4 3 5 4

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Intervals Scales Circle of 5ths Fret Maps CAGED Charts Diatonic Chords Diatonic Keys Chord Fingerings Chord Naming Progressions Modes Counting Rhythm Arpeggios Reading Tab Other Notation Injury