What is the Circle of Fifths?

The Circle of Fifths is best described as a visual representation of key relationships in music. It organizes the 12 tones of the chromatic scale into a circle, showing the relationships between different keys. Moving clockwise around the circle, each key is a perfect fifth apart from the next. This arrangement highlights the functional relationships between major and minor keys, providing musicians with a valuable tool for understanding harmony, transposition, and the relationships between scales.

By observing the Circle of Fifths, musicians can easily identify related keys, which aids in composing and arranging music. It also assists in recognizing the number of sharps or flats in each key, making it easier to switch between major and minor modes. The visual layout communicates a lot of information quickly and intuitively, thereby enhancing the understanding of tonal relationships in Western music.