Full Access Members Only

Simple Application

 

Get Full Access Today To Learn

Circle Of Fifths: An Introduction

Plus 11,000 More Guitar Lessons.

Product Cost Lessons Instructors Instructor Help New Lessons Return Policy
Guitar Tricks $19.95 11,000+ 45 Instructors Yes Yes, Weekly 60 Days
Guitar Dvd's $30 - $60 20 - 30 1 Instructor No Interaction No No
Guitar Books $20 - $40 30 - 40 1 Instructor No Interaction No No
Other Sites $20 - $40 100 - 500 1-5 Instructor Sometimes Sometimes 3-7 Days
In-person $40 - $80 1 Hour 1 Instructor Yes Yes No
In this lesson we'll look at applying the concept of the circle of fifths to a basic chord progression.

I use this chord progression in C major.

C (I) / F (IV) / D (V of V) / G (V)

We're using 2 positions or a small slice of the circle of fifths: mostly C major and briefly G major. Typically any modulation or transposition is a way of using or applying the concept of the circle of fifths.

We can add another position or enlarge the slice we are using by adding a A chord. Now we are including the D major key.

C (I) / A (V of II) / D (V of V) / G (V)

This is also known as cycle five motion. It can help to quickly organize the overall structure of a piece of music in order to know which notes to use for a melody or a lead line.

Open In New Window
lesson notation