Circle Of Fifths
ONCE UPON A TIME...
Imagine a most colorful neighborhood where everyone is related! . . . a magical terrain where each of 12 homes have a particular 'coat of arms' on the door . . . which is called a key signature!
The houses are all exactly the same distance apart ~ a perfect fifth ~ and form a perfect circle! Hence, a Circle of Fifths!
At 12 o'clock on the circle we find a coat of arms with neither sharps nor flats ~ home to the C family . . . perhaps . . . depending on who answers the door! If we are greeted by a happy pleasant face, we have arrived in the C major family. However, if a more solemn and mysterious face greets us, we are likely engaging with the A minor family!
Let's meet the 8 different sounds who live together here ~
| C | D | E | F | G | A | B | C | as C major |
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | A | as A minor |
If the happy face has answered the door, the family has lined up as C major ~ meaning C will be the primary sound and all music in the house will likely begin and end on a C chord.
However, if the solemn and mysterious alignment is in place then A will be the primary sound and all music in the house will likely begin and end on an A minor chord.
C major family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Mi | Fa | Sol | La | Ti | Do |
| C | D | E | F | G | A | B | C |
A natural minor family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Me | Fa | Sol | La | Te | Do |
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | A |
Notice that the notes are identical in C major and A natural minor. However, their ‘solfeggio jobs’ are definitely not! A solfeggio job is a relational role. Ready to explore? . . .
From time to time neighbors from nearby on the circle are invited over to create a particular ambience.
Notice the position of F & G on the circle in relation to C major. Notice they are also found in the ‘Fa’ and ‘Sol’ positions of C major.
When raised ½ step to become F# and G#, these adjacent neighbors can create special effects in both the major and minor configurations. Ready to explore? . . .
One O'Clock
Let's go on to next-door ~ just a perfect fifth away ~ and see who’s home . . .
At one o’clock on the circle we find one sharp in the coat of arms on the door . . . indicating the G family ~ or, perhaps the E minor family, depending upon who answers the door!
We have just entered into a family system exactly like what we heard next-door in the C family! The letter names have changed, but not the solfeggio jobs! Enter the brain-boggling, nerdy world of solfeggio! FUN with solfeggio >
G major family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Mi | Fa | Sol | La | Ti | Do |
| G | A | B | C | D | E | F# | G |
E natural minor family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Me | Fa | Sol | La | Te | Do |
| E | F# | G | A | B | C | D | E |
Notice the position of C & D on the circle in relation to G major. Notice they are also found in the ‘Fa’ and ‘Sol’ positions of G major.
When raised ½ step to become C# and D#, these adjacent neighbors can create special effects in both the major and minor configurations. Ready to explore? . . .
Two O'Clock
Continuing around the circle ~ at 2 o’clock we find 2 sharps in the coat of arms key signature ~ indicating either D major or B minor. Predictably, we encounter the same relational family system and the same solfeggio jobs!
D major family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Mi | Fa | Sol | La | Ti | Do |
| D | E | F# | G | A | B | C# | D |
B natural minor family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Me | Fa | Sol | La | Te | Do |
| B | C# | D | E | F# | G | A | B |
Notice the position of G & A on the circle in relation to D major. Notice they are also found in the ‘Fa’ and ‘Sol’ positions of D major.
When raised ½ step to become G# and A#, these adjacent neighbors can create special effects in both the major and minor configurations. Ready to explore? . . .
Three O'Clock
Arriving at the 3 o’clock house, we discover 3 sharps in the coat of arms ~ and wonder who will answer the door. Will it be A major . . . or F#m?
A major family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Mi | Fa | Sol | La | Ti | Do |
| A | B | C# | D | E | F# | G# | A |
F# natural minor family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Me | Fa | Sol | La | Te | Do |
| F# | G# | A | B | C# | D | E | F# |
Notice the position of D & E on the circle in relation to A major. Notice they are also found in the ‘Fa’ and ‘Sol’ positions of A major.
When raised ½ step to become D# and E#, these adjacent neighbors can create special effects in both the major and minor configurations. Ready to explore? . . .
Four O'Clock
Moving on to the 4 o’clock house, we stop, look and listen. Finding 4 sharps in the ‘coat of arms’ key signature, we are about to encounter E major or C# minor!
E major family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Mi | Fa | Sol | La | Ti | Do |
| E | F# | G# | A | B | C# | D# | E |
C# natural minor family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Me | Fa | Sol | La | Te | Do |
| C# | D# | E | F# | G# | A | B | C# |
Notice the position of A & B on the circle in relation to E major. Notice they are also found in the ‘Fa’ and ‘Sol’ positions of E major.
When raised ½ step to become A# and B#, these adjacent neighbors can create special effects in both the major and minor configurations. Ready to explore? . . .
Five O'Clock
At 5 o’clock we find a house nearly full of #s! As expected, 5 of them, to be exact! Stepping onto the porch, we are about to meet B major . . . or . . . G# minor!
B major family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Mi | Fa | Sol | La | Ti | Do |
| B | C# | D# | E | F# | G# | A# | B |
G# natural minor family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Me | Fa | Sol | La | Te | Do |
| G# | A# | B | C# | D# | E | F# | G# |
Notice the position of E & F# (enharmonically Gb) on the circle in relation to B major. Notice they are also found in the ‘Fa’ and ‘Sol’ positions of B major.
When raised ½ step to become E# and F𝄪, these adjacent neighbors can create special effects in both the major and minor configurations. Ready to explore? . . .
Six O'Clock
Arriving at 6 o’clock on the circle we suddenly are in a new section of the neighborhood! 6 flats in the key signature coat of arms! Be wise and memorize them in order:
Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb
This sequence is hidden in the Circle of Fifths ~ as you did in the subsequent section about the order of the sharps. Can you find it?
On our Circle of Fifths we chose to name the 6 o’clock position Gb. If we had named it F# and expressed it as 6 sharps we would still be correct ~ because enharmonically ~ meaning same sound different name ~ Gb and F# are the same sound!
Many of the sounds we encountered in the ‘sharp’ families will show up again in the ‘flat’ families, but will be expressed as their enharmonic equivalents. Such as . . . we already met Gb at 1 o’clock ~ disguised as F#! Ready to explore? Enharmonic >
Here it is expressed as 6 flats:
G♭ major family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Mi | Fa | Sol | La | Ti | Do |
| G♭ | A♭ | B♭ | C♭ | D♭ | E♭ | F | G♭ |
E♭ natural minor family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Me | Fa | Sol | La | Te | Do |
| E♭ | F | G♭ | A♭ | B♭ | C♭ | D♭ | E♭ |
Notice the position of Cb (B enharmonically) & Db on the circle in relation to Gb major. Notice they are also found in the ‘Fa’ and ‘Sol’ positions of Gb major.
When raised ½ step to become C♮ and D♮ these adjacent neighbors can create special effects in both the major and minor scales. Ready to explore? . . .
Here is the 6 o’clock house expressed as 6 sharps. Be wise and memorize them in order:
F# C# G# D# A# E#
This sequence is also hidden in the Circle of Fifths. Can you find it?
F# major family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Mi | Fa | Sol | La | Ti | Do |
| F# | G# | A# | B | C# | D# | E# | F# |
D# natural minor family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Me | Fa | Sol | La | Te | Do |
| D# | E# | F# | G# | A# | B | C# | D# |
Notice the position of B (enharmonically Cb) & C# (enharmonically Db) on the circle in relation to F# major. Notice they are also found in the ‘Fa’ and ‘Sol’ positions of F# major (enharmonically Gb).
When raised ½ step to become B# and C𝄪 these adjacent neighbors can create special effects in both the major and minor scales. Ready to explore? . . .
Seven O'Clock
Onward to visit the flat families! At 7 o’clock with 5 flats on the door we are about to discover the happy family of Db major ~ or the mysterious Bb minor!
D♭ major family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Mi | Fa | Sol | La | Ti | Do |
| D♭ | E♭ | F | G♭ | A♭ | B♭ | C | D♭ |
B♭ natural minor family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Me | Fa | Sol | La | Te | Do |
| B♭ | C | D♭ | E♭ | F | G♭ | A♭ | B♭ |
Notice the position of Gb & Ab on the circle in relation to Db major. Notice they are also found in the ‘Fa’ and ‘Sol’ positions of Db major.
When raised ½ step to become G♮ and A♮ these adjacent neighbors can create special effects in both the major and minor scales. Ready to explore? . . .
Eight O'Clock
Continuing on around the neighborhood . . . at 8 o’clock with 4 flats on the door ~ we enter the home of Ab major or F minor.
A♭ major family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Mi | Fa | Sol | La | Ti | Do |
| A♭ | B♭ | C | D♭ | E♭ | F | G | A♭ |
F natural minor family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Me | Fa | Sol | La | Te | Do |
| F | G | A♭ | B♭ | C | D♭ | E♭ | F |
Notice the position of Db & Eb on the circle in relation to Ab major. Notice they are also found in the ‘Fa’ and ‘Sol’ positions of Ab major.
When raised ½ step to become D♮ and E♮ these adjacent neighbors can create special effects in both the major and minor scales. Ready to explore? . . .
Nine O'Clock
Coming up to the 9 o’clock house we find 3 flats in the ‘coat of arms’ key signature. We are about to visit Eb major and C minor!
E♭ major family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Mi | Fa | Sol | La | Ti | Do |
| B♭ | F | G | A♭ | B♭ | C | D | E♭ |
C natural minor family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Me | Fa | Sol | La | Te | Do |
| C | D | E♭ | F | G | A♭ | B♭ | C |
Notice the position of Ab & Bb on the circle in relation to Eb major. Notice they are also found in the ‘Fa’ and ‘Sol’ positions of Eb major.
When raised ½ step to become A♮ and B♮ these adjacent neighbors can create special effects in both the major and minor scales. Ready to explore? . . .
Ten O'Clock
Meandering in measured steps we approach a house with 2 flats on the door. Waiting inside? The pleasant Bb major . . . or the solemn Gm?
B♭ major family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Mi | Fa | Sol | La | Ti | Do |
| B♭ | C | D | E♭ | F | G | A | B♭ |
G natural minor family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Me | Fa | Sol | La | Te | Do |
| G | A | B♭ | C | D | E♭ | F | G |
Notice the position of Eb & F on the circle in relation to Bb major. Notice they are also found in the ‘Fa’ and ‘Sol’ positions of Bb major.
When raised ½ step to become E♮ and F# these adjacent neighbors can create special effects in both the major and minor scales. Ready to explore? . . .
Eleven O'Clock
Home at 11 o’clock ~ where F major and D minor share an address ~ we find a single flat on the door. We’ve been invited in! Let’s explore!
F major family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Mi | Fa | Sol | La | Ti | Do |
| F | G | A | B♭ | C | D | E | F |
D natural minor family solfeggio
| Do | Re | Me | Fa | Sol | La | Te | Do |
| D | E | F | G | A | B♭ | C | D |
Notice the position of Bb & C on the circle in relation to F major. Notice they are also found in the ‘Fa’ and ‘Sol’ positions of F major.
When raised ½ step to become B♮ and C# these adjacent neighbors can create special effects in both the major and minor scales. Ready to explore? . . .
and then just a perfect fifth away . . .
We have come full circle!
Go Practice!
This is an adventure you can take again and again . . .
Print the Circle of Fifths and put it on your wall ~ on your tablet ~ on your computer. Order a Circle of Fifths clock face and memorize it! Practice your tetrachords and scales thousands of times ~ becoming familiar with every house, every coat of arms, every secret enharmonic spelling. If you do this, the colorful neighborhood, the magical terrain will become your world . . . the music will flow easily through you ~ and through your instrument ~ into a world that needs your gift.
