Erasmus

Circle of fifths

The map of every key. Tap a key on the outer ring for the major key, or on the middle ring for its relative minor.

Clockwise = up a fifth. Each step adds a sharp.
C major Am C Am 0G major Em G Em 1♯D major Bm D Bm 2♯A major F♯m A F♯m 3♯E major C♯m E C♯m 4♯B major / C♭ major G♯m / A♭m B C♭ G♯m A♭m 5♯ 7♭F♯ major / G♭ major D♯m / E♭m F♯ G♭ D♯m E♭m 6♯ 6♭D♭ major / C♯ major B♭m / A♯m D♭ C♯ B♭m A♯m 5♭ 7♯A♭ major Fm A♭ Fm 4♭E♭ major Cm E♭ Cm 3♭B♭ major Gm B♭ Gm 2♭F major Dm F Dm 1♭ C major no sharps or flats
your major key your minor key I · IV · V neighbours vi · ii · iii neighbours

C major

no sharps or flats

Relative minor: A minor (same notes, same signature, different home note)

The scale

C D E F G A B

Major scale. Each letter is used once, which is why the spelling can look odd (E♯ instead of F).

Chords in this key

NumberChordNotes
I C C E G
ii Dm D F A
iii Em E G B
IV F F A C
V G G B D
vi Am A C E
vii° Bdim B D F

The three chords that sit side by side on the circle with your key are the ones that belong together: I (C), IV (F) and V (G).

Neighbouring keys

A fifth up (V): G major — 1 sharp (F♯)
A fourth up, a fifth down (IV): F major — 1 flat (B♭)

Closer on the circle means more notes in common, which is why songs move between neighbouring keys so easily.

Remember the signatures

Sharps are added in this order: F C G D A E B — Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle.
Flats are added in the reverse order: B E A D G C F — Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles's Father.
For a sharp key, the key is one step up from the last sharp. For a flat key, the key is the second-to-last flat (F major is the one exception).

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