ChordLilt
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Interactive circle of fifths: keys and relative minors

Choose a key to inspect its signature, relative minor and nearby keys.

Circle of fifths with major keys and relative minorsF♯ major and G♭ major share piano pitches in equal temperament. Their written note names differ.CAmGEmDBmAF♯mEC♯mBG♯mF♯ / G♭D♯m / E♭mD♭B♭mA♭FmE♭CmB♭GmFDmKeyC

Relative minor

A Minor

Neighboring keys

F Major
G Major
I Cii Dmiii EmIV FV Gvi Amvii° Bdim

Ready to play. Sound starts when you press Play.

Follow fifths around the circle

Moving from C to G and then D adds F-sharp and then C-sharp to the major signatures. Moving from C to F introduces B-flat. The layout groups keys by these relationships; it is not a chart of chromatic semitone order.

Read the selected key

Choose a key and compare its scale notes with the neighboring keys. The relative minor shares its key signature but has a different tonic. For C major, that minor tonic is A.

  1. Select C and inspect its seven notes.
  2. Select G and locate the changed F-sharp.
  3. Return to C and compare A natural minor.

Understand the enharmonic seam

F-sharp major and G-flat major use the same pitch classes in equal temperament but different written names. The circle makes that overlap visible. A key spelling selected for a reference page does not make its enharmonic partner incorrect.

Read a worked circle example Explore the selected key’s chords

Sources and methods