Key Signatures and the Circle of Fifths and Fourths

The magical, mysterious, and mystical Cycle of Fifths.

Published: 05 Sep 2011 Updated: 14 Jul 2022Visits: 370Code: ML-basic-12

Topic: Charts Instruments: Ukulele ANY Music Guitar Subjects: Theory • Reading • Beginner • Intermediate • Songwriting • Repertoire • Progressions

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There is a load of information in traditional Key Signatures. Unlocking the principles in this circle leads to a better understanding of music and how things work.

A key signature is a series of sharp or flat symbols placed on the staff, designating the notes that are to be consistently played higher or lower than the equivalent natural notes. Key signatures are generally written immediately after the clef at the beginning of a line of musical notation. Each major and minor key has an associated key signature that sharpens or flattens the notes which are used in its scale.

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A Few Observations

  • 15 Diatonic Keys • NOT 12 • If considering the Relative Minor keys of the Major Keys—the total is 30.
  • Key of C Major / A Natural Minor contains only all natural notes: C D E F G A B C'
  • Seven Sharp Keys: G D A B F♯ C♯
  • Seven Flat Keys: F B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ C♭
  • Key of C♯ has ALL sharps: C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B♯ C♯'
  • Key of C♭ has ALL flats: C♭ D♭ E♭ F♭ G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭'
  • Flats (♭) and Sharps (♯) are not mixed in Major and Relative Minor keys Key Signatures
  • Each successive Key Signatures includes the previous key signature's accidentals.
  • The last sharp (♯) in a key signature is the letter right before the name of the major key. Example: The last sharp in G major is F♯. A B C D E F♯ G. The last sharp in E major is D♯, A B C D♯ E F G A.
  • The order of Sharps move in fifths (clockwise F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ B♯ ). The order of Flats move in fourths (counter-clockwise B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ C♭ F♭).

Key Signatures and the Circle of Fifths and Fourths…

  • Memorize the cycle of fourths at first. FOURTHS: C F B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ F♯ B E A D G C. The word BEAD is in there twice, first with flats( B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ ) then with no flats or sharps ( B E A D ). Making it a little easier to memorize. Then fifths is the other direction, with BEAD in there backwards ( D A E B ).
  • The Primary Chords for a Major Key are: to left (the IV chord) and the right (the V chord) of the root of the key (the I chord). This ONLY works for major keys and not their Relative Minor keys.

Fourths: C F B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ F♯ B E A D G C
Fifths: C G D A E B F♯ D♭ E♭ A♭ ♭b F C

  • A sharp () and flat () are two of the three accidentals with a natural sign () being the other. Other than the Key of C Major/Am the cycle is full of either sharps or flats and not any mixed with sharps and flats.
  • Common Rock, Pop, Country, and Folk keys are: C, G, D, A, and E. These are typical keys for guitar.
  • Common Jazz keys are: C, F, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, and the lone sharp key of G. There is a some overlap with F and Bb as common keys for ukulele.
  • For each key there is a corresponding lesson covering the primary, secondary, and diminished chords in each major key. See the Key Signatures Lessons Series .
  • The answer the the questions? How many traditional major and minor keys are there? Is 30 — the 15 major and 15 relative minor keys.

The Circle of Fifths Made Clear by Mark Newman

Great video explaining the history and significance of learning this mystical, musical key.

Memorize IT!

I actually memorized the sequence C F Bb Eb Ab Db F# B E A D G (C), With out resorting to any mnemonics by seeing that there is the word BEAD in there twice. Once with flats and once natural notes.

In this order it is actually in the counter-clockwise order and a cycle of fourths - not fifths.

First: As a Cycle of Fourths

  • Memorize C and F
  • BEAD with flats for Bb Eb Ab Db
  • The transition F# or Gb it's Enharmonic Equivalent then
  • BEAD and finally
  • G C

for: C F Bb Eb Ab Db F# B E A D G C

Second: As a Cycle of Fifths

Then backwards as the Circle of Fifths.

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End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!

Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.

Related Lessons

Related Lessons for Key Signatures and the Circle of Fifths and Fourths.

UL09

Major & Relative Minor Key Signatures

Updated: 13 Feb 2020

A "Key Signature" is a series of sharp or flat symbols placed on the staff, designating the notes that are to be consistently played higher or lower than the equivalent natural notes. Key signatures are generally written immediately after the clef at the beginning of a line of musical notation. Each major and minor key has an associated key signature that sharpens or flattens the notes which are used in its scale.

Related Lesson Series

Related Lessons Series for Key Signatures and the Circle of Fifths and Fourths.

Key Signatures - A Major

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

The key of A major-F# minor.

Cover the primary and secondary chords and common chord progressions.

Key Signatures - Ab Major

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

The key of Ab major-F minor. Covers the primary and secondary chords and common chord progressions.

Key Signatures - Bb Major

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

The key of Bb major-G minor. Covers the primary and secondary chords and common chord progressions.

Key Signatures - C Major

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

A key signature is a summary of the sharps or flats in a Major or it's relative Natural Minor scale. This series of lessons covers ALL 15 major and relative minor keys with their primary and secondary chords as well as sample common chord progressions.

Key Signatures - D Major

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

The key of D major-B minor. Covers the primary and secondary chords and common chord progressions.

Key Signatures - Db Major

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

The key of Db major-Bb minor. Covers the primary and secondary chords and common chord progressions.

Key Signatures - E Major

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

The key of E major-C# minor.

Cover the primary and secondary chords and common chord progressions.

Key Signatures - Eb Major

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

The key of Eb major-C minor. Covers the primary and secondary chords and common chord progressions.

Key Signatures - F Major

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

The Key of F Major and its Relative Minor, D minor. Covers the primary and secondary chords and common chord progressions.

Key Signatures - G Major

Updated: 01 Jan 2003

The key of G major-E minor.

Cover the primary and secondary chords and common chord progressions.

Related Books & Charts

Related Books for Key Signatures and the Circle of Fifths and Fourths.

RMA1

Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution

Updated: 10 Jun 2021

Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.

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