Circle of Fifths
All major keys in circle-of-fifths order, showing their key signatures, number of accidentals, and relative minor keys. This makes it easy to see relationships between keys and find matching minor relatives.
Overview
The circle of fifths arranges major keys by ascending perfect fifths (clockwise) and descending fifths (counterclockwise). Each step adds one sharp note (going clockwise) or one flat note (counterclockwise) to the key signature. The relative minor of a major key shares the same key signature but starts on the 6th degree.
Visual Sequence (Circle Order)
C major
0 ♯/♭
Am
0 ♯/♭
Am
G major
1 ♯ (F♯)
Em
1 ♯ (F♯)
Em
D major
2 ♯ (F♯, C♯)
Bm
2 ♯ (F♯, C♯)
Bm
A major
3 ♯ (F♯, C♯, G♯)
F#m
3 ♯ (F♯, C♯, G♯)
F#m
E major
4 ♯ (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯)
C#m
4 ♯ (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯)
C#m
B major
5 ♯ (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯)
G#m
5 ♯ (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯)
G#m
F♯ major
6 ♯ (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯)
D♯m
6 ♯ (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯)
D♯m
D♭ major
5 ♭ (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭)
B♭m
5 ♭ (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭)
B♭m
A♭ major
4 ♭ (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭)
Fm
4 ♭ (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭)
Fm
E♭ major
3 ♭ (B♭, E♭, A♭)
Cm
3 ♭ (B♭, E♭, A♭)
Cm
B♭ major
2 ♭ (B♭, E♭)
Gm
2 ♭ (B♭, E♭)
Gm
F major
1 ♭ (B♭)
Dm
1 ♭ (B♭)
Dm
Major Keys & Their Relative Minors
Full list of the 12 major keys in circle-of-fifths order with key signatures and their relative minor keys.
| # | Major Key | Key Signature | Accidentals | Major Notes | Relative Minor | Relative Minor Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C major | — | 0 | C D E F G A B | A minor | A B C D E F G |
| 2 | G major | F♯ | 1 sharp | G A B C D E F♯ | E minor | E F♯ G A B C D |
| 3 | D major | F♯, C♯ | 2 sharps | D E F♯ G A B C♯ | B minor | B C♯ D E F♯ G A |
| 4 | A major | F♯, C♯, G♯ | 3 sharps | A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯ | F♯ minor | F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D E |
| 5 | E major | F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯ | 4 sharps | E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯ | C♯ minor | C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A B |
| 6 | B major | F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ | 5 sharps | B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯ | G♯ minor | G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E F♯ |
| 7 | F♯ major | F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯ | 6 sharps | F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E♯ | D♯ minor | D♯ E♯ F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ |
| 8 | D♭ major | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭ | 5 flats | D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C | B♭ minor | B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ |
| 9 | A♭ major | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭ | 4 flats | A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G | F minor | F G A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ |
| 10 | E♭ major | B♭, E♭, A♭ | 3 flats | E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D | C minor | C D E♭ F G A♭ B♭ |
| 11 | B♭ major | B♭, E♭ | 2 flats | B♭ C D E♭ F G A | G minor | G A B♭ C D E♭ F |
| 12 | F major | B♭ | 1 flat | F G A B♭ C D E | D minor | D E F G A B♭ C |