Circle Of Fifths Robert Higginbotham (Page 2 of 4) in pdf

Circle Of Fifths Robert Higginbotham Page 2

Start at the Top

C major is located at the top of the circle. It has no sharps or flats. Occupying the same slice of the

circle is the C major’s relative minor - key of A minor. Likewise it has no sharps or flats.

The ‘sharp keys’

Moving to the right we go a fifth from C to the key of G.

G has 1 sharp. The relative minor is E

Moving to the right we go a fifth from G to the key of D.

D has 2 sharps. The relative minor is B

F#, C#

Moving to the right we go a fifth from D to the key of A.

A has 3 sharps. The relative minor is F#

F#, C#, G#

See the pattern yet ??

Moving to the right we go a fifth from A to the key of E.

E has 4 sharps. The relative minor is C#

F#, C#, G#, D#

Two things happen when cycling through the “sharp keys”

Each key inherits the sharps from the previous key

Each key adds one sharp – it’s major seventh note.

Moving to the right we go a fifth from E to the key of B.

B has 5 sharps. The relative minor is G#

F#, C#, G#, D#, A#

Moving to the right we go a fifth from B to the key of F#.

F# has 6 sharps. The relative minor is D#

F#, C#, G#, D#, E#

E# whoa… hold the horses. Isn’t E# an F ?? Well, yes. Same note – the two notes are enharmonic but

technically the note is E# in the key of F#. Why ?

Spelling scales – when spelling eight note major (and relative minor) scales

the following rules apply:

Never skip a letter (A-G are used in every scale)

Never repeat a letter (except the last note which is the same as the first)

Moving to the right we go our last fifth to the key of C#.

C# has 7 sharps. The relative minor is A#

Circle of Fifths

Printed: 10/12/2011

Page 2 of

Circle Of Fifths Robert Higginbotham Page 2