C major
C Dm Em F G Am Bdim
Reference key.
Circle of fifths chords
Use the circle to organize chord families, not just key signatures.
The circle can help you see which keys are closely related and how their diatonic chord families overlap.
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Chord families
Start from one major key and its diatonic chords.
Neighboring keys often share several chords because their scales differ by only one note.
G major
G Am Bm C D Em F#dim
One sharp away.
F major
F Gm Am Bb C Dm Edim
One flat away.
Relative minor
Major and relative minor share a key signature.
This relationship gives you another way to organize tonic centers.
C ↔ Am
No sharps/flats
Relative pair.
G ↔ Em
One sharp
Relative pair.
F ↔ Dm
One flat
Relative pair.
Neighboring keys
Related tonal centers can suggest secondary or borrowed movement.
The circle helps visualize where temporary dominant motion may point.
V of V
Secondary dominant
A dominant pointing to the dominant.
Key change
Nearby modulation
Move into a neighboring key with shared chords.
Pivot chord
Common chord
Use one chord that belongs to both keys.
FAQ
Quick answers about circle of fifths chords.
Use these answers as a reference, then explore the relationships interactively.
How do chords fit on the circle of fifths?
The circle organizes keys; each key contains its own diatonic chord family, and neighboring keys share many notes and chords.
Can the circle show relative minor chords?
Yes. Relative major and minor keys share the same key signature.
How can the circle help modulation?
Neighboring keys often share chords, making it easier to find pivot chords or secondary-dominant paths.
ChordRevelation
Move from explanation to interactive harmony.
Change the key, compare voicings, follow voice leading and see the same idea directly on the fretboard.