Circle of Fifths Poster

[vinny]

I'm looking for a nice wall-sized one in bass clef that also shows the sharps & flats on the staff. I've searched a bunch of sites but haven't found one. Little help anyone?

[Dave Muscato]

Just memorize it

Order of sharps: Father Charlie Goes Down And Ends Battle
Order of flats: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charlie's Father

Order of keys: C (0), G (1), D (2), A (3), E (4), B (5), F#/Gb (6/6), C#/Db (7/5), G#/Ab (8/4), D#/Eb (9/3), A#/Bb (10/2), E#/F (11/1), B#/C (12/0)

[vinny]

Yeah, It's for the wall as a teaching tool. I already know it.

[Bassman7PM]

+1 for Dave. I'm in the process of trying to memorize them myself, so this is what I keep on the wall in my office.

[Dave Muscato]

I figured you did; I was teasin'.

Here's one; G-clef though:

http://www.wwbw.com/Castalia-Publica...-i121845.music

Hope this helps!

Bassman, there's really nothing to memorize... if you know the chromatic scale, and you memorize those two mnemonics, you've got it! With practice, I don't even think of the circle of fifths anymore; you just see the neck as a whole and read the music.

[Rossman59]

Hey Dave. I never thought of memorizing the Cicle of Fifths that way.

This helps. Thanks alot man.

I knew this Talkbass hanging would pay off.

[Dave Muscato]

My pleasure I learned that in high school theory back in the day Glad to pass it along.

[vinny]

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

I figured you did; I was teasin'.

Here's one; G-clef though:

http://www.wwbw.com/Castalia-Publica...-i121845.music

I saw that one, I was hoping to find one for bass. Both my grandsons are starting to show some interest & I'd like to steer them right from the start. They're kids so a visual aid would probably be better than me saying "go memorize this"

[Rossman59]

And I've seen this site referenced here also -

www.circle-of-fifths.net

[DocBop]

Memorize it for real it doesn't take that long. Just drill yourself on it when driving or other idle time. When you force yourself to think about it your internalize it, find way to check your answer, and tell your brain this is something important for me to remember. If you want a chart make your own again thinking thru it helps embed it in your brain. Visual aids tend to slow the learning process. But just grabbing a scrap of paper and writing out the CoF's when there's a few seconds really plants the info. Do the same thing for spelling triads, then 7th chords, and later full extended chords. Get to where that info comes to you in milliseconds and creating bass lines, improvising, and guessing where chords when playing or transcribing new tunes will skyrocket.


Now the key to learn this and similar things is study it hard for 21 days. Then put it away even if you feel you haven't mastered it. You will find over the next few days and weeks out of nowhere you will think what is the key signature of F#, how do you spell BbMaj7, A resolve down to ??? That is your subconscious mind saying I didn't quite get that can you think about it for a second and give me the answer. It all part of the learning cycles of our mind and body.

[sublime0bass]

mel bay makes a good one

that ****er doesn't know how to hold a pick, though

[MonetBass]

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

Just memorize it

Order of sharps: Father Charlie Goes Down And Ends Battle
Order of flats: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charlie's Father

My orchestra teacher used this version:
#'s: Fat Charlie Gets Drunk At Every Bar
b's: Bar Every At Drunk Gets Charlie Fat (huh?)

I remembered it though.

[Stumpy]

Go
Down
And
Eat
Before
Father (#)
Comes (#)

Find
Bb (betty)
Eb (eating)
Ab (all)
Db (deep)
Gb (garbage)
Cb (cans)

Have your students come up with their own so that they will remember it faster.

[vinny]

Originally Posted by DocBop

Memorize it for real it doesn't take that long. Just drill yourself on it when driving or other idle time. When you force yourself to think about it your internalize it, find way to check your answer, and tell your brain this is something important for me to remember. If you want a chart make your own again thinking thru it helps embed it in your brain. Visual aids tend to slow the learning process. But just grabbing a scrap of paper and writing out the CoF's when there's a few seconds really plants the info. Do the same thing for spelling triads, then 7th chords, and later full extended chords. Get to where that info comes to you in milliseconds and creating bass lines, improvising, and guessing where chords when playing or transcribing new tunes will skyrocket.


Now the key to learn this and similar things is study it hard for 21 days. Then put it away even if you feel you haven't mastered it. You will find over the next few days and weeks out of nowhere you will think what is the key signature of F#, how do you spell BbMaj7, A resolve down to ??? That is your subconscious mind saying I didn't quite get that can you think about it for a second and give me the answer. It all part of the learning cycles of our mind and body.

I'm the OP. See posts #3 & #8. I also wish to teach them the proper locations of the sharps & flats on the staves.

[MarkTAW]

I just go "four sharps... C, G, D, A" etc.