Circle of Fifths Explained: How to Use It When Making Beats
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At first glance the circle of fifths looks like something out of a music school textbook: a ring of letters, sharps and flats. But it is one of the most useful charts you can know as a producer. In one look you can see which keys are related, which chords fit your key and which samples will sound good together.
This guide explains the circle of fifths without heavy theory, and shows how to use it when you make beats.
What is the circle of fifths?
The circle of fifths is a circle with all twelve major keys, arranged so that every step clockwise is a fifth higher. A fifth is a distance of seven semitones, for example from C to G. From G you go up another fifth to D, and so on, until you land back on C after twelve steps.
Clockwise, starting at the top, the outer ring looks like this:
C, G, D, A, E, B, F# (Gb), Db, Ab, Eb, Bb, F and then back to C.
The inner ring shows the relative minor of each major key: the minor key that uses exactly the same notes. For C major that is A minor, for G major it is E minor, and so on.
The circle of fifths as a chart
Prefer a list to a circle? Here is the same circle, clockwise from C. The last column shows how many sharps (#) or flats (b) each key has.
| Major | Relative minor | Key signature |
|---|---|---|
| C | Am | none |
| G | Em | 1 sharp |
| D | Bm | 2 sharps |
| A | F#m | 3 sharps |
| E | C#m | 4 sharps |
| B | G#m | 5 sharps |
| F# / Gb | D#m / Ebm | 6 sharps / 6 flats |
| Db | Bbm | 5 flats |
| Ab | Fm | 4 flats |
| Eb | Cm | 3 flats |
| Bb | Gm | 2 flats |
| F | Dm | 1 flat |
At the bottom of the circle the sharps and flats meet. F# major and Gb major sound exactly the same on a piano or in your DAW, only the name is different.
How to read the circle of fifths
You only need to remember three things:
- Neighbors are family. Two keys next to each other differ by just one note. C major and G major share six of their seven notes: G has an F# where C has an F.
- Clockwise adds a sharp, counterclockwise adds a flat.
- The further apart, the less in common. Keys opposite each other, like C and F#, share the fewest notes and clash the hardest.
4 ways to use the circle of fifths when you make beats
1. See the chords in your key at a glance
This is the most useful trick. Find your key on the circle and grab its neighbors on the left and right. Add the three minor chords from the inner ring and you have six of the seven chords in your key.
Example in C major: outer ring F, C, G and inner ring Dm, Am, Em. Those are chords IV, I, V, ii, vi and iii. The seventh chord, B diminished, is not on the circle, but it is also the one you will use least in beats.
Working in A minor? Then you use exactly the same slice of the circle. Am is your home chord, with Dm and Em as iv and v, and F, C and G as VI, III and VII. Want every chord in every key with the Roman numerals? Read which chords go together or check the chords by key page.
2. Build progressions that pull toward home
Moving counterclockwise sounds like a strong, logical movement, because the root drops a fifth every time. That is why a run like Am, Dm, G, C feels so natural: you walk around the circle toward C and come to rest there. In Roman numerals that is vi, ii, V, I.
The same idea works in minor. In A minor, Dm, G, C, F drops a fifth each time, so the chords feel like they push each other forward. Add an E major at the end and you fall hard back onto Am, again a fifth down.
3. Pick a key change that fits
Want the last chorus or the bridge to lift? Moving to a neighbor on the circle feels smooth, because almost all the notes stay the same. The further you jump across the circle, the bigger the contrast. The classic pop key change of one semitone up, for example from C to Db, lands far away on the circle. That is why it stands out so much.
Does a beat need a different key because it does not suit the vocalist? You can also transpose the beat.
4. Match samples and loops
Samples in the same key or a neighboring key usually sound good together. So a loop in G major often fits a melody in C major or D major, or their relative minors. A loop in F# major over a beat in C major will often clash.
DJs use the Camelot wheel for the same idea. It is basically the circle of fifths with numbers instead of names: 8B is C major, 9B is G major, 8A is A minor. Every step of one number is one step on the circle of fifths. More on that in harmonic mixing with the Camelot wheel.
Bonus: the order of sharps and flats
The circle of fifths also tells you the order in which sharps and flats get added. Handy if you read sheet music or want to write out a scale.
- Sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#. So G major has only F#, and D major has F# and C#.
- Flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb, Fb. That is exactly the reverse order. F major has only Bb, and Bb major has Bb and Eb.
Step by step: use the circle of fifths on your next beat
- Find the key. Starting from a sample or an existing beat? Drop the file into Beat Lab and get a key and BPM estimate right in your browser.
- Find that key on the circle. Grab the neighbors on the left and right and the three minor chords from the inner ring. That is your chord palette.
- Pick two to four chords. Try a few counterclockwise steps for a loop that moves logically toward home.
- Let your 808 or bass play the root notes. That keeps the low end tight right away.
- Check extra samples. Pick loops in the same key or a neighbor, then trust your ears.
Do not feel like clicking everything into the piano roll? With the free Chord Progression Generator you pick a mood, major or minor, your key and your tempo. Listen right in your browser and download the MIDI with chords and a bass line, ready for FL Studio, Logic Pro or Ableton.
FAQ
Why is it called the circle of fifths?
Because every step clockwise is a fifth higher. After twelve fifths you end up back at the key you started on, which closes the circle.
Do I need to memorize the circle of fifths to make beats?
No. Plenty of producers make great beats by ear. But if you know the circle a little, you find chords that work faster and you understand why something clashes.
What is the difference between the circle of fifths and the Camelot wheel?
It is the same idea. The Camelot wheel replaces key names with a number and a letter (A for minor, B for major). DJs mostly use it to mix tracks, but producers can use it just as well for samples.
Are F# major and Gb major the same?
They sound exactly the same in your DAW. The only difference is how you write the notes: with six sharps or with six flats.
Does the circle of fifths work for minor keys too?
Yes. Look at the inner ring. Every minor key shares its notes with the major key next to it, so you use the same slice of the circle. Only your home chord is different.
Want more free help for your beats, like a batch BPM finder, master checker and audio converter? Check out all our free music tools.