MUSIC THEORY · KEY SIGNATURES

Interactive Circle of Fifths

Choose a major key on the outside or a minor key on the inside. From C, follow the sharp keys clockwise and the flat keys anticlockwise.

C major

Key signature: No sharps or flats
Relative key: A minor
Major scale: C · D · E · F · G · A · B · C
Neighbouring keys on this ring: F major and G major

Upright piano samples by Simon Dalzell (Ivy Audio), distributed by Versilian Studios.

Try it

The Roman numerals show the triads in your selected key. Uppercase means major and lowercase means minor. Minor keys use the natural minor scale.

Start on C major and move one place clockwise to G major. The key signature gains F♯. Choose E minor on the inside ring to see how a relative minor shares the same key signature but starts on a different note.

At the bottom of the circle, use the spelling button to compare keys such as F♯ major and G♭ major. They sound the same here, but their notes are written differently.

Practise identifying key signatures · Build a scale