Interactive Circle of Fifths
Click any key to see its scale, key signature, relative minor and Camelot code, hear every chord in the key and play the most common progressions. Download any progression as MIDI.
Outer ring: major keys · inner ring: relative minor keys · small numbers: Camelot codes · highlighted: the chords and closely related keys of the selected key
The Chord Progression MIDI Pack
72 progressions from hit songs and moods, in all 12 keys: 864 MIDI files for any DAW. Plus The Songwriter's Cheat Sheet (PDF).
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DOWNLOAD MIDI PACK → CHEAT SHEET PDFWant the same progressions as 7th chords, piano stabs, arpeggios, ballad piano and pads? See MIDI Pack PRO ($9) →
How to read the circle of fifths
Each step clockwise moves up a perfect fifth (C → G → D) and adds one sharp to the key signature. Each step counter-clockwise moves up a fourth (C → F → B♭) and adds one flat. At the bottom the sharp and flat sides meet: F♯ major and G♭ major are the same notes written two ways.
The inner ring shows the relative minor of each major key. A relative minor uses exactly the same notes as its major key; only the home note changes. That is why A minor and C major share the same key signature, and why a song can move between them without any new notes.
How to use it when you write
- The chords of a key sit together. The selected key, its neighbour on each side and the three minor keys under them are the six main chords of the key: I, IV and V on the outer ring, vi, ii and iii on the inner ring. Pick a key above and they light up.
- Neighbours make smooth key changes. Moving one step on the circle changes only one note, so a bridge or final chorus in the key next door sounds fresh without sounding wrong.
- Borrow from the minor side. Chords from the parallel minor (for example F minor or A♭ in C major) add colour to a major song. The chord progression generator has examples with these borrowed chords.
Key signatures chart: all 12 keys
Click a key for its scale, all seven chords, 7th chords and common progressions, or browse chords in every key.
| Major key | Key signature | Scale | Relative minor | Camelot | Chords (I ii iii IV V vi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C major | no sharps or flats | C D E F G A B | Am | 8B / 8A | C Dm Em F G Am |
| G major | 1 sharp: F♯ | G A B C D E F♯ | Em | 9B / 9A | G Am Bm C D Em |
| D major | 2 sharps: F♯ C♯ | D E F♯ G A B C♯ | Bm | 10B / 10A | D Em F♯m G A Bm |
| A major | 3 sharps: F♯ C♯ G♯ | A B C♯ D E F♯ G♯ | F♯m | 11B / 11A | A Bm C♯m D E F♯m |
| E major | 4 sharps: F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ | E F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D♯ | C♯m | 12B / 12A | E F♯m G♯m A B C♯m |
| B major | 5 sharps: F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ | B C♯ D♯ E F♯ G♯ A♯ | G♯m | 1B / 1A | B C♯m D♯m E F♯ G♯m |
| F♯ / G♭ major | 6 sharps: F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ E♯ | F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E♯ | D♯m / E♭m | 2B / 2A | F♯ G♯m A♯m B C♯ D♯m |
| D♭ major | 5 flats: B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ | D♭ E♭ F G♭ A♭ B♭ C | B♭m | 3B / 3A | D♭ E♭m Fm G♭ A♭ B♭m |
| A♭ major | 4 flats: B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ | A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭ F G | Fm | 4B / 4A | A♭ B♭m Cm D♭ E♭ Fm |
| E♭ major | 3 flats: B♭ E♭ A♭ | E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D | Cm | 5B / 5A | E♭ Fm Gm A♭ B♭ Cm |
| B♭ major | 2 flats: B♭ E♭ | B♭ C D E♭ F G A | Gm | 6B / 6A | B♭ Cm Dm E♭ F Gm |
| F major | 1 flat: B♭ | F G A B♭ C D E | Dm | 7B / 7A | F Gm Am B♭ C Dm |
F♯ major (6 sharps) and G♭ major (6 flats) sound the same; so do D♯ minor and E♭ minor. Keys with 7 sharps or flats (C♯ and C♭ major) are usually written as D♭ and B major instead.
The Camelot wheel for DJs and producers
The Camelot system, introduced by Mixed In Key and used in many DJ apps, numbers the circle of fifths from 1 to 12, with A for minor keys and B for major keys. Two tracks mix harmonically when their codes are the same, one number apart (8A → 9A or 7A) or the same number with the other letter (8A ↔ 8B). The tool above shows the compatible codes for every key.
Every progression in every key, ready to drag in
MIDI Pack PRO has 113 chord progressions from hit songs, standards and moods in 6 playing styles and all 12 keys (8,136 MIDI files, $9). The Song Starter MIDI Kit adds bass and drums: 48 progressions as full grooves ($19).
Quick answers
What is the circle of fifths?
A diagram of the 12 keys in order of fifths. Going clockwise, each key is a perfect fifth higher and has one more sharp (or one fewer flat). Keys next to each other share six of their seven notes, which is why chords and key changes between neighbours sound natural.
How do you find the relative minor?
The relative minor is three semitones (a minor third) below the major key and uses the same key signature: A minor for C major, E minor for G major, D minor for F major. On the circle it sits on the inner ring next to its major key.
What is the order of sharps and flats?
Sharps are added in the order F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ E♯ B♯; flats in the reverse order B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ C♭ F♭. G major has one sharp (F♯), D major two (F♯ C♯), F major one flat (B♭), B♭ major two (B♭ E♭).
Which chords are in a key?
The chords on the circle around a key: in C major these are C, F and G (I, IV, V) on the outer ring and Am, Dm and Em (vi, ii, iii) on the inner ring, plus B° (vii°). Pick a key in the tool above to hear all of them.
What does 8A mean in the Camelot wheel?
8A is A minor and 8B is C major. In Camelot notation (used by DJ software from Mixed In Key and others) keys one number apart, or with the same number and the other letter, mix harmonically.