Key relationships

Interactive Circle of Fifths

Connect major keys, relative minors, signatures, scales and diatonic chords.

Selected key

C major

No sharps or flats

Relative minor: A minor

Dominant / clockwise fifth: G major

Subdominant / anticlockwise fourth: F major

Scale: C · D · E · F · G · A · B

Diatonic chords: I C · ii D · iii E · IV F · V G · vi A · vii° B

Scroll table horizontally if needed →

Linear circle-of-fifths alternative
Major key	Relative minor	Signature
	A minor	No sharps or flats
	E minor	F♯
	B minor	F♯, C♯
	F♯ minor	F♯, C♯, G♯
	C♯ minor	F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯
	G♯ minor	F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯
	D♯ / E♭ minor	F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯
	B♭ minor	B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭
	F minor	B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭
	C minor	B♭, E♭, A♭
	G minor	B♭, E♭
	D minor	B♭

Clockwise movement follows ascending fifths and usually adds sharps; anticlockwise movement follows ascending fourths and usually adds flats. The linear table carries the same information as the circular control.

Interactive Circle of Fifths

Moving clockwise adds sharps by fifths; moving anticlockwise adds flats by fourths. The linear table carries the same information as the visual control.

C major moves clockwise to G major, which adds F♯; its relative minor is E minor.

Read the result

The text answer, formula and labelled visual are equivalent views of the selected state. The circle organises key relationships, but it does not say that every musical progression must move around the circle.

Connected theory

Follow the selected root or tonic into its hub, then into the relevant key, interval or inversion reference. Contextual links use the active subject rather than the same generic list on every page.

Try a controlled comparison

Change one selector at a time and describe what changed in the notes, degrees, bass or signature. Generated audio is optional and user initiated.

Keep the root fixed and change quality.
Keep the structure fixed and transpose.
Compare the visible text with the keyboard.

Keep exploring

Use the related links to compare the answer with another tool or read the musical idea in more detail.