Subject: Circle of fifth revisited
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:31:08 GMT
Circle of fifths revisited
Much of music theory has simply to be learned by rote. Once you know the
chord relationships in the key of C, the information can be converted
into any key, but there are 12 major keys, each with its own unique
signature which it shares with the corresponding minor key.
One way to help keep it straight is by using the circle of fifths, which
can be written out:
F C G D A E B Gb Db Ab Eb Bb F C ….etc
The key of C, no sharps or flats, is flanked by the key of F (one flat)
and the key of G (One sharp). The one flat in the key of F is Bb
(B-flat) and the one sharp in the key of G is F# (F-sharp).
From this, we can work out where the sharps and flats are in any key.
As you move forward (to the right) in the circle, the number of sharps
increases by one. Which sharps? Start with F and move forward. There are
two sharps in the key of D and they are F# and C#.
To write out the notes in the key of D, just write the notes in order
D E F G A B C D
Remember that in any key there will never be two consecutive letters the
same. We know that F and C are sharp so the notes are
D E F# G A B C# D
Moving forward again, the key of A, the next one along after D, has
three sharps – start again with F, and add C and G.
A B C# D E F# G# A
Note that the seventh note, also called the leading note, is always the
note a semitone lower than the root note.
Looking at the flats, we are told that there is one flat in the key of F
and that is Bb. Moving backward from F around the circle, we get to Bb,
which has two flats. Starting from Bb and moving backwards, we see the
next flat is Eb. So we can write out the notes of the key of Bb major,
because we know it has two flats, Eb and Bb.
Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
Again, the seventh note, the leading note, is one semitone below the root.
--
Stephen
Ballina, Australia
Much of music theory has simply to be learned by rote. Once you know the
chord relationships in the key of C, the information can be converted
into any key, but there are 12 major keys, each with its own unique
signature which it shares with the corresponding minor key.
One way to help keep it straight is by using the circle of fifths, which
can be written out:
F C G D A E B Gb Db Ab Eb Bb F C ….etc
The key of C, no sharps or flats, is flanked by the key of F (one flat)
and the key of G (One sharp). The one flat in the key of F is Bb
(B-flat) and the one sharp in the key of G is F# (F-sharp).
From this, we can work out where the sharps and flats are in any key.
As you move forward (to the right) in the circle, the number of sharps
increases by one. Which sharps? Start with F and move forward. There are
two sharps in the key of D and they are F# and C#.
To write out the notes in the key of D, just write the notes in order
D E F G A B C D
Remember that in any key there will never be two consecutive letters the
same. We know that F and C are sharp so the notes are
D E F# G A B C# D
Moving forward again, the key of A, the next one along after D, has
three sharps – start again with F, and add C and G.
A B C# D E F# G# A
Note that the seventh note, also called the leading note, is always the
note a semitone lower than the root note.
Looking at the flats, we are told that there is one flat in the key of F
and that is Bb. Moving backward from F around the circle, we get to Bb,
which has two flats. Starting from Bb and moving backwards, we see the
next flat is Eb. So we can write out the notes of the key of Bb major,
because we know it has two flats, Eb and Bb.
Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
Again, the seventh note, the leading note, is one semitone below the root.
--
Stephen
Ballina, Australia
Subject: Re: Circle of fifth revisited
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:54:12 -0400
"Stephen Calder" <calder9@in.com.au> wrote in message
news:4850ecd7$1@news.mel.dft.com.au...
> Circle of fifths revisited
>
> Much of music theory has simply to be learned by rote. Once you know the
> chord relationships in the key of C, the information can be converted into
> any key, but there are 12 major keys, each with its own unique signature
> which it shares with the corresponding minor key.
>
> One way to help keep it straight is by using the circle of fifths, which
> can be written out:
>
>
> F C G D A E B Gb Db Ab Eb Bb F C ….etc
>
>
> The key of C, no sharps or flats, is flanked by the key of F (one flat)
> and the key of G (One sharp). The one flat in the key of F is Bb (B-flat)
> and the one sharp in the key of G is F# (F-sharp).
>
> From this, we can work out where the sharps and flats are in any key. As
> you move forward (to the right) in the circle, the number of sharps
> increases by one. Which sharps? Start with F and move forward. There are
> two sharps in the key of D and they are F# and C#.
>
> To write out the notes in the key of D, just write the notes in order
>
>
> D E F G A B C D
>
>
> Remember that in any key there will never be two consecutive letters the
> same. We know that F and C are sharp so the notes are
>
>
> D E F# G A B C# D
>
>
> Moving forward again, the key of A, the next one along after D, has three
> sharps – start again with F, and add C and G.
>
> A B C# D E F# G# A
>
>
> Note that the seventh note, also called the leading note, is always the
> note a semitone lower than the root note.
>
> Looking at the flats, we are told that there is one flat in the key of F
> and that is Bb. Moving backward from F around the circle, we get to Bb,
> which has two flats. Starting from Bb and moving backwards, we see the
> next flat is Eb. So we can write out the notes of the key of Bb major,
> because we know it has two flats, Eb and Bb.
>
> Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
>
> Again, the seventh note, the leading note, is one semitone below the root.
>
> --
> Stephen
> Ballina, Australia
I primarily use the circle of fifths to simply figure out what key to play
in. Check me on this if I'm wrong, but I believe it tells you what key to
solo in if the key of a song is a minor chord. For example, if a song is in
e-minor (which is inside the circle) then you would solo or play lead in the
key of G (which is outside the circle).