How the Circle of Fifths is organised.

How the Circle of Fifths is organised.

Let’s start with the note C up at the top. A lot of musical elements centre around the note C, particularly when you’re learning to play the piano, your reference point is ‘middle C’, for example.

Next we’re going to find the note that is separated by a 5th. C, D, E, F, G. (We’re working clock-wise / left to right) There’s an easy way to remember the first 6 notes, of the circle of fifths by using this sentence: Charlie Goes Down And Ends Battle. The bold letters/notes are all a 5th apart from each other.

A, B, C, D, E, F, G. etc

From the note, B, our next note – working clockwise, is going to be an F#. It’s a sharp because you already have an ‘F natural’, in the flat’s section working anti clockwise so, you can’t have the same note twice.

Remember that the note C is at 12 O’Clock, and F# is at 6 O’Clock. Having finished at Battle, the note B goes to F#. (B, C,D, E, F) (5th).

To remember the order of flats working anti-clockwise, you can remember the following Two words ‘Father BEAD’, F natural, Bb, Eb, Ab,Db, F#.