The Circle of Fifths
The Circle of Fifthsis arguably the most powerful tool in music theory. For guitarists, it's a visual map that shows you how keys are related and which chords work best together.
Click any major key in the middle ring to rotate it to 12 o'clock.
Why Should You Care?
- Find Your Key: Quickly identify which sharps or flats belong to a scale.
- Write Better Progressions: Chords adjacent on the circle (like G, C, and D) naturally sound great together.
- Transposition: Easily move a song from one key to another.
How it Works
Starting from C at the top, each step clockwise moves you five notes up (a "fifth"). C to G, G to D, D to A, and so on. As you move clockwise, you add one sharp to the key signature. Moving counter-clockwise adds one flat.
Guitar Pro Tip
The "1-4-5" progression (the foundation of rock and blues) is always three adjacent spots on the circle. In the key of C, you have F (the 4th), C (the 1st), and G (the 5th).
Apply the Circle
Practice switching between related chords using our interactive Practice Companion.
Start Practicing