Click any key to see its key signature, its relative minor or major, the seven chords that belong to it, and the neighbouring keys it moves to most smoothly.
| MAJOR | MINOR | SIGNATURE | ACCIDENTALS |
|---|
The circle of fifths lays out the twelve keys in a ring. Move one step clockwise and the tonic jumps up a perfect fifth — C to G, G to D, and so on — and the key signature gains one sharp. Move counter-clockwise and you fall a fifth each time, adding one flat. After twelve steps you arrive back where you started.
Because neighbouring keys differ by only one accidental, they share six of their seven notes. That is why a song in C major can slip into G major or F major without sounding like it has jumped anywhere — the two keys are almost the same collection of notes. Composers use this closeness to plan modulations, and songwriters use it to borrow a chord from next door.
Every major key shares its key signature with one minor key: its relative minor, a minor third below the tonic. C major and A minor both have no sharps or flats. The inner ring of this tool shows each relative pair. Switching between a key and its relative is the most common key change in popular music.
Stack thirds on each note of a major scale and you get seven chords: I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi and vii°. Three are major (I, IV, V), three are minor (ii, iii, vi) and one is diminished (vii°). Select any key above and the tool builds all seven for you.
Want the theory behind it? The Cloud Atelier music guides cover keys, scales and harmony in depth. To hear the diatonic chords in action, open the Scale & Chord Finder or build a progression with the Chord Progression Generator.