Free tool · Circle of Fifths
Turn the dial.
Find your key.
C majorC · D · E · F · G · A · B
In the keyPlaying
Have a MIDI keyboard? In the Melodio app the dial follows your key while every chord you play is named. Free, offline.
Download MelodioHow to read the circle
Four things to notice, in order.
Clockwise, one sharp at a time.
Each step clockwise goes up a fifth: C, G, D, A. Every new key keeps the sharps of the one before and adds one more.
- G · F♯
- D · F♯ C♯
- A · F♯ C♯ G♯
Counter-clockwise, one flat at a time.
The other way goes down a fifth: C, F, B♭, E♭. Flats pile up in the same order every time, starting with B♭.
- F · B♭
- B♭ · B♭ E♭
- E♭ · B♭ E♭ A♭
The inner ring holds the minors.
Each minor key shares its notes and signature with the major key next to it. A minor is C major starting on A; E minor is G major starting on E.
- C major ↔ A minor
- G major ↔ E minor
Six neighbours, six chords.
The slice around your key gives you its chords: I, IV and V on the outside, vi, ii and iii inside. Add vii° and you have the seven chords of the key.
- C · F · G
- Am · Dm · Em
- + B°
Cheat sheet
Every key signature.
C major and A minor have none. Each key below adds one accidental to the key before it.
| Major | Minor | Sharps |
|---|---|---|
| G | E minor | F♯ |
| D | B minor | F♯ C♯ |
| A | F♯ minor | F♯ C♯ G♯ |
| E | C♯ minor | F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ |
| B | G♯ minor | F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ |
| F♯ | D♯ minor | F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ E♯ |
| C♯ | A♯ minor | F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ E♯ B♯ |
| Major | Minor | Flats |
|---|---|---|
| F | D minor | B♭ |
| B♭ | G minor | B♭ E♭ |
| E♭ | C minor | B♭ E♭ A♭ |
| A♭ | F minor | B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ |
| D♭ | B♭ minor | B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ |
| G♭ | E♭ minor | B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ C♭ |
| C♭ | A♭ minor | B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ C♭ F♭ |
Take the circle to your keyboard.
Melodio puts the circle next to your MIDI keyboard: pick a key, and every chord you play is named with its degree. Free and offline.