Printable chart
Circle of fifths
A printable circle of fifths with all 12 major and minor keys and their key signatures. See which keys are closely related and how many sharps or flats each has.
Fits on one page.
Clockwise from C
| Major key | Relative minor | Key signature |
|---|---|---|
| C | Am | 0 |
| G | Em | 1♯ |
| D | Bm | 2♯ |
| A | F♯m | 3♯ |
| E | C♯m | 4♯ |
| B | G♯m | 5♯ |
| F♯/G♭ | D♯m/E♭m | 6♯/6♭ |
| D♭ | B♭m | 5♭ |
| A♭ | Fm | 4♭ |
| E♭ | Cm | 3♭ |
| B♭ | Gm | 2♭ |
| F | Dm | 1♭ |
How the circle works#
The twelve major keys are arranged in a circle, each a perfect fifth above the one before it. Starting from C at the top and moving clockwise, every step adds one sharp: G has one, D has two, A has three, and so on. Moving counter-clockwise from C adds one flat each step: F has one, B♭ has two.
The ring just inside the majors shows each key’s relative minor, which shares its key signature. The innermost ring is the number of sharps or flats.
What it is good for#
- Finding a key signature fast. Count steps from C.
- Seeing which keys are close. Neighbouring keys share six of their seven notes, which is why pieces modulate to them so often.
- Seeing the pattern behind chord progressions. Many common progressions move around the circle by fifths.
At the bottom the circle closes: F♯ major (six sharps) and G♭ major (six flats) are the same key on a piano, spelled two ways.
Sources: Wikipedia: Circle of fifths.