Circle of Fifths
Interactive circle of fifths with key signatures, scale notes, diatonic chords and relative minors.
Outer ring: major keys. Inner ring: their relative minors. Clockwise is a fifth up, anticlockwise a fifth (or fourth) down.
C major
- Key signature
- No sharps or flats
- Relative minor
- A minor
- Parallel minor
- C minor
- Dominant (V) key
- G major
- Subdominant (IV) key
- F major
- Scale notes
- C D E F G A B
- Diatonic chords
- C Dm Em F G Am Bdim
- Roman numerals
- I ii iii IV V vi vii°
Common progressions in this key
All 15 key signatures
| Major key | Relative minor | Sharps / flats | Accidentals | Scale notes |
|---|
How it works
The circle of fifths arranges the twelve keys so that each step clockwise raises the tonic by a perfect fifth and adds one sharp to the key signature, while each step anticlockwise adds one flat. C major sits at the top with no accidentals; three steps clockwise is A major with three sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯), and three steps anticlockwise is E♭ major with three flats (B♭, E♭, A♭). Sharps are always added in the order F C G D A E B, and flats in the reverse order B E A D G C F.
Click any key on the outer ring for a major key or the inner ring for its relative minor — the two share a key signature but start on different notes (C major and A minor both have none). The panel shows the scale spelling, the seven diatonic chords with their Roman numerals (I ii iii IV V vi vii° for major, i ii° III iv v VI VII for natural minor), the neighbouring dominant and subdominant keys, and a few progressions written out in that key. At the bottom of the circle keys overlap enharmonically — F♯ major and G♭ major sound the same — so use the spelling button to swap between them.
Everything is computed in your browser from a small embedded table of the fifteen standard key signatures. Nothing is uploaded, no account is needed and the CSV export is generated locally.
Frequently asked questions
What is the circle of fifths used for?
It shows how the twelve keys relate to each other. Each step clockwise raises the tonic by a perfect fifth and adds one sharp; each step anticlockwise adds one flat. Musicians use it to recall key signatures, find the relative minor, pick chords that belong together and plan modulations. The dominant (one step clockwise) and subdominant (one step anticlockwise) are the two easiest keys to move to.
How do I read key signatures from the circle of fifths?
Count steps from C major at the top. Clockwise: G has 1 sharp, D 2, A 3, E 4, B 5, F♯ 6, C♯ 7, always added in the order F C G D A E B. Anticlockwise: F has 1 flat, B♭ 2, E♭ 3, A♭ 4, D♭ 5, G♭ 6, C♭ 7, added in the reverse order B E A D G C F. So E major has three sharps: F♯, C♯ and G♯.
What is the relative minor of a key?
The relative minor starts on the sixth degree of the major scale and shares its key signature, so it sits directly inside the major key on the inner ring: A minor for C major, E minor for G major, C minor for E♭ major. This tool shows the relative minor, the parallel minor (same root, different signature) and the seven diatonic chords for whichever ring you click.