Free music theory tool
Free Interactive Circle of Fifths
Pick any key to hear it, see its key signature and chords, and find the keys next to it. The inner ring holds the relative minors.
G major
1 sharp: F♯ · relative E minor
Make a song in G major
Pick a style. MusicWave writes an original song with vocals, with G major in the prompt.
How to read it
Three things the circle tells you
Clockwise adds a sharp
Each step clockwise is a fifth higher and adds one sharp. Each step counter-clockwise adds one flat.
Neighbours share chords
The keys on either side are the IV and V of the key you picked. Songs often borrow chords from them or move to them.
Inside is the relative minor
The inner ring shows the minor key with the same notes, like G major and E minor.
Use it to write
Pick chords and change key with it
Find six chords that fit
Take your key, its two neighbours, and the three minors under them. In G major that's G, C, D, Em, Am and Bm.
Change key smoothly
Moving one step around the circle is the gentlest key change, because the two keys share six of their seven notes.
Change the mood, not the notes
Switching between a key and its relative minor moves a song from bright to dark without any new notes.
FAQ
Circle of fifths questions
What is the circle of fifths?
A map of all 24 keys. Going clockwise, each key is a fifth above the last and has one more sharp. Going the other way, each key has one more flat.
How do I use it to write a song?
Pick a key, then build a progression from its chords. The keys right next to yours on the circle, its IV and V, give the safest chord changes.
What is a relative minor?
The minor key that uses the same notes as a major key. It sits on the inner ring, under its major key: E minor under G major.
Why do F♯ and G♭ share a spot?
They sound the same on a piano. F♯ major is written with six sharps, G♭ major with six flats.
How do I remember the order of sharps?
F C G D A E B. A common way to remember it is Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle. Flats go the other way: B E A D G C F.
What key is my song in?
Drop the file into the free BPM & key finder. It tells you the key, then you can open that key's page here.