Circle of Fifths
A great way to learn and memorize our major scales is through the circle of fifths. What exactly is the circle of fifths?
Here it is Clockwise: C - G - D - A - E - B - Gb/F#
Here it is Counter Clockwise: C - F - Bb - Eb - Ab - Db/C# - Gb/F#
So, what does this circle mean?
- The circle of fifths has many purposes, but in this article, we will use it as a way to memorize our major scales.
As you can tell, the top of circle starts on a C note, and clockwise, it goes up in intervals of perfect fifths. However, counter-clockwise, it goes down in intervals of perfect fifths.
Cool, now that we have that down, we can begin to learn the notes on our major scale in a simpler manner. One way of finding our major scales is by the order of whole and half steps that make them up.
Major scales are made up of this order of steps:
- whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.
An example would be the C major scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B.
Another example would be the Eb major scale: Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D.
If you analyze both scales, you will realize that they are both made up of that order of steps, w,w,h,w,w,w,h.
-- However, a very easy way to remember these scales to the core is by using the circle of fifths, and here's what I mean by that.
By memorizing the circle of fifths, we will know exactly how many sharps (#) or flats (b) each major scale contains. Every time we go up (clockwise) the circle of fifths, we add a sharp to the scale, and every time we go down (counter clockwise) the circle of fifths, we add a flat to the scale.
With that information, now we only need to memorize which sharps and flats to add to each scale.
Ok, enough talk, let's start to dissect this circle.
Let's go up (clockwise) through the circle of fifths until we reach C#, which should give us 7 sharps.
C (No Sharps) C, D, E, F, G, A, B.
G (1 Sharp) G, A, B, C, D, E, F#.
D (2 Sharps) D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#.
A (3 Sharps) A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#.
E (4 Sharps) E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#.
B (5 Sharps) B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#.
F# (6 Sharps) F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E#.
C# (7 Sharps) C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B#.
See the pattern?
Ok, now let's do the same thing, except now we'll go down (counter clockwise) the circle of fifths until we reach Cb, or (B), which will give us 7 flats.
C (No Flats) C, D, E, F, G, A, B.
F (1 Flat) F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E.
Bb (2 Flats) Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A.
Eb (3 Flats) Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D.
Ab (4 Flats) Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G.
Db (5 Flats) Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C.
Gb (6 Flats) Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, F.
Cb (7 Flats) Cb, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb.
Awesome! Now we have all our major scales in all 12 keys!
Now, let's not be discouraged by the sharps and flats on each scale that we need to memorize. If we take a closer look at those scales, we'll find out that we only need to memorize patterns. And of course, the more we practice thinking of these patterns, the easier it will be to identify every major scale that you want, effectively and quickly.
The sharps are added to each scale in this order:
- F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#.
The flats are added to each scale in this order:
- Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb, Fb.
Conclusion: By memorizing the circle of fifths and which sharps and flats to add to each scale you should be able to play any major scale you wish without a problem.
Hope you enjoyed and found this information useful.
To get your free beginner's guitar 5 day mini course, and more music and guitar lessons, visit
http://www.ultimateguitarlibrary.com/ .
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