The Circle Of Fifths
Links in this video:
Use the Circle to know which chords go well together in any specific Key. Want your own circle to print out? Download one here.
Take the key of G Major for example - locate the G on the outer wheel. The Circle tells you that any chord that touches that G box will work "well" in a song in the key of G, i.e. C, D and Em.
Here's a slick tool that uses the circle of 5ths to come up with nice chord progressions:
The 7th chord fits too!
Try playing a 7th chord for the chord directly clockwise of the key your in. For example, a song in key of C, throw in a G7. It sounds good too! A song in the key of F, throw in a C7.
Ready to go further?
Want to dive deeper?
- How it applies to intervals (i.e. I, IV, V)
- https://www.musicnotes.com/now/tips/circle-of-fifths-guide/
- https://zinginstruments.com/the-circle-of-fifths/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_fifths
- https://ledgernote.com/columns/music-theory/circle-of-fifths-explained/
- https://randscullard.com/CircleOfFifths/UserGuide.htm
- https://www.circleoffifths.com
- https://www.musictheory.net/lessons
- https://youtu.be/qtSV1dsce5Q
- https://youtu.be/DVy7_DSxmzA
- https://youtu.be/fXIEmMDwc7E
- https://youtu.be/O43EBVnwNvo
The Circle of 5ths and Movable Chords
You can play the chords anywhere on the neck. The chord you are playing is determined by the root note:
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