That’s why we call this circle the ‘circle (or cycle) of fifths’. And every step counterclockwise a fifth down (or a fourth up). So that means that we could display this row with scales in a circle, as follows:Īt the right side we have the major scales with sharps, on the left side the major scales with flats.Įvery step clockwise in this circle (this would correspond with a step to the right in our row above) means a fifth up (or a fourth down). It is important to realize that the most left scale (Gb) and the most right scale (F#) are actually the same scale, since Gb and F# are the same note, only written differently: they are enharmonic equivalent. Every step to the right would mean a fifth up (or a fourth down) and thus an extra sharp note in the scale. At the right of C, all the major scales with sharps. Every step to the left would mean a fifth down (or a fourth up) and thus an extra flat note in the scale. At the left of C, all the major scales with flats. We could now display all the roots (starting notes) of the major scales in a row with C major (no sharps, no flats) in the middle. And, starting from C major, every time we go a fifth down (or a fourth up, which is basically the same), we get one more flat note in the major scale. In the lesson ‘ How to form a major scale’, I explained that starting from the C major scale, every time we take a major scale a fifth higher, the scale gets one extra sharp note. The circle of fifths (also called cycle of fifths) gives us a handy overview of the different scales and how they are related to each other.
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