what exactly is the circle of fifths used for?

[alex027]

Now i know what it consists of and somewhat of how it works. But what exactly do you use it for when playing music?

[JimmyM]

It's to tell you how many sharps are in a major scale. It starts on C with no sharps or flats, then goes to G where you add one sharp, then D where you add another, then A where you add another, and so on.

Likewise, the circle of fourths tells you how many flats are in each scale. Starting on C, then you go to F with one flat, Bb with two flats, Eb with three flats, etc.

[Bruce Lindfield]

For working out the chords in the Middle 8 of "Rhythm Changes" !!

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

For working out the chords in the Middle 8 of "Rhythm Changes" !!

Yeah - just go to the III7 and start cycling through!

[jaebee]

to show you that there are only 12 tones, to show you how the cycle of fifths and fourths are related, to show you the largest jump (usually) between chords that you want to make (a 5th is a large jump)

basically, you should know it, when you find out how to apply it then that is why you know it

[funkydjembe]

It also shows how closely related all of the other 11 tones are to the tonic. If you begin on C and go to the right you descend a fifth and land on the "subdominant" F. If you go to the left you ascend a fifth and land on the "dominant" G. These two notes are closest related to C. The furthest away from C is Gb (at the 6 'oclock position) The Gb is the least related to C (a "tri-tone" or 3 whole tones). A lot of people use the circle as an aid in writing music or transposing. It's a good thing to know.

[Depth_Charge]

Originally Posted by funkydjembe

It also shows how closely related all of the other 11 tones are to the tonic. If you begin on C and go to the right you descend a fifth and land on the "subdominant" F. If you go to the left you ascend a fifth and land on the "dominant" G. These two notes are closest related to C. The furthest away from C is Gb (at the 6 'oclock position) The Gb is the least related to C (a "tri-tone" or 3 whole tones). A lot of people use the circle as an aid in writing music or transposing. It's a good thing to know.

In laymans terms, does that mean that if I start writing a song in C, a G or F progression is going to be a more logical choice, easier to work with, sound nicer, be more popular etc than juming from C to Gb?
Hang on a minute. I think I get it. It's horrible to comprehend. It's...All the small things...
Aaaargh

And the COF helps me understand how and why that works for so many 182 fans? Cool! I'm learning it!!

[funkydjembe]

Originally Posted by Depth_Charge

In laymans terms, does that mean that if I start writing a song in C, a G or F progression is going to be a more logical choice, easier to work with, sound nicer, be more popular etc than juming from C to Gb?
Hang on a minute. I think I get it. It's horrible to comprehend. It's...All the small things...
Aaaargh

And the COF helps me understand how and why that works for so many 182 fans? Cool! I'm learning it!!

I said "some people". Personlly, I like to jump to the Gb and just stay there. BAM! and then round it up with one of those classic blues endings; c-e'-f-f#-ga-bc Gb----------

[Khronic]

The circle of fifths is also used when tuning a piano.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by Naimishbridge

The circle of fifths is also used when tuning a piano.

How's that? I know piano tuners play 5th's interval a lot when tuning. And they move around keyboard a lot so not to change tension on one area too much at once. Like torquing down a head on are engine. They also have styles of tuning; at what point they start going sharp or flat and how much. But don't know how the CoF plays into that.


Cirle of Fifths is a Swiss Army Knife of tools it can be used in many ways. I use it to pick a key to practice in. I get a dart gun and shoot at a Circle of Fifths chart on the wall to see what key to work in that day. If I hit the bulls eye it Atonal Day!

[Charling]

Originally Posted by Depth_Charge

In laymans terms, does that mean that if I start writing a song in C, a G or F progression is going to be a more logical choice, easier to work with, sound nicer, be more popular etc than juming from C to Gb?
Hang on a minute. I think I get it. It's horrible to comprehend. It's...All the small things...
Aaaargh

And the COF helps me understand how and why that works for so many 182 fans? Cool! I'm learning it!!

hmm, well if you write a song in c then the melody should also strongly suggest c unless you have a specific goal in unsetling the ears of the listener, suggesting two keys at once. it does mean that in melodies based on c major the strongest notes in that melody (after the C of course) are going to be the F and the G which you should bear in mind, but be careful of over use because its not a particularly interesting sound!

more likely will be if you change key, a short jump would be to F or G major, a larger one to Gb major. knowing when and where to change keys is a vital part of songwriting and the circle of 5ths/4ths helps you out with clues as to the nearest related keys!

[funkydjembe]

Originally Posted by Charling

hmm, well if you write a song in c then the melody should also strongly suggest c unless you have a specific goal in unsetling the ears of the listener, suggesting two keys at once. it does mean that in melodies based on c major the strongest notes in that melody (after the C of course) are going to be the F and the G which you should bear in mind, but be careful of over use because its not a particularly interesting sound!

more likely will be if you change key, a short jump would be to F or G major, a larger one to Gb major. knowing when and where to change keys is a vital part of songwriting and the circle of 5ths/4ths helps you out with clues as to the nearest related keys!

+1 exactly. I read somewhere that the tri-tone interval (in this case with the c the Gb) was banned from being used by the church back in the medieval days. The church biggies said it was a "devilish" interval.

[Charling]

Originally Posted by funkydjembe

+1 exactly. I read somewhere that the tri-tone interval (in this case with the c the Gb) was banned from being used by the church back in the medieval days. The church biggies said it was a "devilish" interval.

yeah I read that too! sometimes cited as to why it is used much these days in Metal and the like. It wasnt used allot in pre equal temperemant music because in the old just-intonation system the Gb in C for example would be very out of tune, perhaps adding to why the church outlawed it because if you dropped it in a piece pre equal temperement it would sound like the devil himself. awesome