Circle of fifths

The circle of fifths arranges the twelve major keys so that neighbours are a perfect fifth apart. Each step clockwise adds one sharp or removes one flat; each step anti-clockwise adds one flat or removes one sharp. Keys that are neighbours on the circle differ by a single note, which is why they sound closely related and why modulations usually move along it.

The twelve keys

Position	Major key	Relative minor	Accidentals	Which accidentals	Neighbours on the circle
1	C	A minor (A minor)	none	—	F / G
2	G	E minor (E minor)	1 sharp	F#	C / D
3	D	B minor (B minor)	2 sharps	F# C#	G / A
4	A	F# minor (Gb minor)	3 sharps	F# C# G#	D / E
5	E	C# minor (Db minor)	4 sharps	F# C# G# D#	A / B
6	B	G# minor (Ab minor)	5 sharps	F# C# G# D# A#	E / F#
7	F#	D# minor (Eb minor)	6 sharps	F# C# G# D# A# E#	B / C#
8	C#	A# minor (Bb minor)	7 sharps	F# C# G# D# A# E# B#	F# / Ab
9	Ab	F minor (F minor)	4 flats	Bb Eb Ab Db	C# / Eb
10	Eb	C minor (C minor)	3 flats	Bb Eb Ab	Ab / Bb
11	Bb	G minor (G minor)	2 flats	Bb Eb	Eb / F
12	F	D minor (D minor)	1 flat	Bb	Bb / C

Position

Major key

Relative minor

Accidentals

Which accidentals

Neighbours on the circle

A minor (A minor)

none

—

F / G

E minor (E minor)

1 sharp

C / D

B minor (B minor)

2 sharps

F# C#

G / A

F# minor (Gb minor)

3 sharps

F# C# G#

D / E

C# minor (Db minor)

4 sharps

F# C# G# D#

A / B

G# minor (Ab minor)

5 sharps

F# C# G# D# A#

E / F#

D# minor (Eb minor)

6 sharps

F# C# G# D# A# E#

B / C#

A# minor (Bb minor)

7 sharps

F# C# G# D# A# E# B#

F# / Ab

F minor (F minor)

4 flats

Bb Eb Ab Db

C# / Eb

C minor (C minor)

3 flats

Bb Eb Ab

Ab / Bb

G minor (G minor)

2 flats

Bb Eb

Eb / F

D minor (D minor)

1 flat

Bb / C

Order of sharps

#	Accidental	Position in the signature
1	F#	the first sharp added to a key signature, going clockwise from C
2	C#	the second sharp added to a key signature, going clockwise from C
3	G#	the third sharp added to a key signature, going clockwise from C
4	D#	the fourth sharp added to a key signature, going clockwise from C
5	A#	the fifth sharp added to a key signature, going clockwise from C
6	E#	the sixth sharp added to a key signature, going clockwise from C
7	B#	the seventh sharp added to a key signature, going clockwise from C

Accidental

Position in the signature

the first sharp added to a key signature, going clockwise from C

the second sharp added to a key signature, going clockwise from C

the third sharp added to a key signature, going clockwise from C

the fourth sharp added to a key signature, going clockwise from C

the fifth sharp added to a key signature, going clockwise from C

the sixth sharp added to a key signature, going clockwise from C

the seventh sharp added to a key signature, going clockwise from C

Order of flats

#	Accidental	Position in the signature
1	Bb	the first flat added to a key signature, going anti-clockwise from C
2	Eb	the second flat added to a key signature, going anti-clockwise from C
3	Ab	the third flat added to a key signature, going anti-clockwise from C
4	Db	the fourth flat added to a key signature, going anti-clockwise from C
5	Gb	the fifth flat added to a key signature, going anti-clockwise from C
6	Cb	the sixth flat added to a key signature, going anti-clockwise from C
7	Fb	the seventh flat added to a key signature, going anti-clockwise from C

Accidental

Position in the signature

the first flat added to a key signature, going anti-clockwise from C

the second flat added to a key signature, going anti-clockwise from C

the third flat added to a key signature, going anti-clockwise from C

the fourth flat added to a key signature, going anti-clockwise from C

the fifth flat added to a key signature, going anti-clockwise from C

the sixth flat added to a key signature, going anti-clockwise from C

the seventh flat added to a key signature, going anti-clockwise from C

How the circle is built

Start on C, which has no accidentals. Add seven semitones repeatedly: C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, back to C. On this site the enharmonic equivalents are used instead of the more remote spellings, so the last five positions read C#, Ab, Eb, Bb, F.
Going the other way, subtract seven semitones repeatedly, which is the same as adding five.
The relative minor of each key is a minor third below its tonic, so it sits one step anti-clockwise from the major on the inner ring.
The keys a fifth apart, a fourth apart and the relative minor are the closest relations musically; the chord families of a key are all within one step of it on this circle.

Common uses

Finding the key signature of a key that has not been memorised: count the steps from C to it.
Deciding which chords belong to a key: the neighbours of a key on the circle are the keys of its IV and V chords, and its relative minor is on the inner ring.
Mapping a modulation: most key changes in popular music move one step clockwise, one step anti-clockwise, or to the relative minor.

Each key on the circle has its own page under Reference. The accidentals are listed for each in Key signatures.

ReferenceIntervals12 intervals, with compound extensions
ReferenceKey signatures15 major keys, 15 minor keys
ReferenceNashville number systemdegrees 1-7 in all 12 keys
CapoCapo chart12 capo positions × 24 target keys
HubScales and modes12 roots × 20 scales
HubChords12 roots × 23 qualities
HubFretboard maps12 note maps, 12 degree maps
HubReferencefour reference pages

Section: Reference · Theory Atlas