Introduction

The circle of fifth relates all the western major key signatures together. You may represent the circle of fifths as rising stack modal pattern, rising at the fifth.

P RH=(5)C Ionian >< H1

P1 RH= C Ionian >< H1

P2 RH= G Ionian >< H1

P3 RH= D Ionian >< H1

P4 RH= A Ionian >< H1

P5 RH= E Ionian >< H1

P6 RH= B Ionian >< H1

P7 RH= Gb Ionian >< H1

P8 RH= Db Ionian >< H1

P9 RH= Ab Ionian >< H1

P10 RH= Eb Ionian >< H1

P11 RH= Bb Ionian >< H1

P12 RH= F Ionian >< H1

Circle of fifth diagram

Remember the fifths rule.

If your right thumb starts on a white note, your pinky will end on a white note, except for the note B.

If you right thumb starts on a black note, your pinky will end on  a black note, except for the note Bb.

You can  use the fifth rule to remember the order at the piano. Start on the note C.

• Place your right hand thumb on C, the fifth is G.

• Place your right hand thumb on G, the fifth is D.

• Place your right hand thumb on D, the fifth is A.

• Place your right hand thumb on A, the fifth is E.

• Place your right hand thumb on E, the fifth is B.

• Place your right hand thumb on B, the fifth is Gb.  ( Fifth rule exception)

• Place your right hand thumb on Gb, the fifth is Db.

• Place your right hand thumb on Db, the fifth is Ab.

• Place your right hand thumb on Ab, the fifth is Eb.

• Place your right hand thumb on Eb, the fifth is Bb.

• Place your right hand thumb on Bb, the fifth is F. ( Fifth rule exception)

• Place your right hand thumb on F, the fifth is C.

Remember the note order around the circle of fifths.

Clockwise: C G D A E B and also B E A D G C

Counter Clockwise: C F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb and also Gb Db Ab Eb Bb F C

On the piano, apply the circle of fifths rule and you'll be able to see this order.

Remember all the black note names.

• Key C has no black notes.

• Key G has one black note, F#.

• Key D has two black notes, F# , C#.

• Key A has three black notes, F#, C#, G#.

• Key E has four black notes, F#, C#, G#, D#.

• Key B has five black notes, F#, C#, G#, D#, A#.

• Key F has one black notes, Bb.

• Key Bb has two black notes, Bb, Eb.

• Key Eb has three black notes, Bb, Eb, Ab.

• Key Ab has four black notes, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db.

• Key Db has five black notes, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb.

• Key Gb also has five black notes, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb (Cb is the note B).

Observe how the fifth rule is applied between F# and C#, C# and G#, G# and D#, D# and A# (Bb)

Observe how the fifth rule is applied between Cb (B) and Gb, Gb and Db, Db and Ab, Ab and Eb, Eb and Bb, Bb and F, F and C.