The Circle of Fifths

Satriani

The Circle of Fifths

This is the easiest way to learn all the Key Signatures. Don't let the fancy name frighten you, it is very simple. When you are reading a piece of music, you look at the Key signature, and look for how many sharps, or flats it has in it (# or b). If there are neither, this tells you the song is in the Key of C Major, because C Major has no sharps or flats. For those of you who want to get technical, it could also be the key of A Minor, but I don't want to get to into this as it's a beginner course really.

Now if we move a perfect 5th up, we land up on G. If you play or know the G Major Scale, you will see that it has 1 sharp in it. If we move a perfect 5th up again we land up on D. D has 2 Sharps in it, and so on until you land up F# which is the end of that circle so to speak. The same works in the opposite direction (counter clockwise). IF we start on C, and move DOWN a perfect 5th, we land up on F. The F Major scale has 1 flat in it. IF we move another perfect 5th down, we get Bb. The Bb Major scale has 2 flats in it, and so on until you end up on Gb (same as F# when moving up from C)

They can of course overlap (enharmonic notes) but that's not really necessary to know, because you will still end up with all 12 keys.

Now how does this information help you? Very simple. When you look at a piece of music, you see 1 sharp sign, you know that the Key is G. You see one Flat sign, you know that the key is F etc....

Hope this helps ?

Manfred-Klose

Satriani said it all. Attached is a diagram on the circle of 5th's, makes it easier for the noods still trying to understand music theory. https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/attachments.guitartalk/68ce199ec2c5517597ce0a4d89620f55-Circle%20of%205th%20explained.pdf

Riaan

Wow Satriani thanks for that! You certainly have a talent for explaining things - a sign of a true master who knows his stuff! I've been hearing about this circle of fifths for some time and never knew what it was all about. This helps!

Satriani

Thanks for the compliment. I honestly believe although I literally learnt all this stuff on my own, I like to explain things to someone in a way that ANYBODY, even a non-musician, could understand it. I think I developed that from the real Satriani. In my opinion, the greatest teacher ever, never mind soloist ?

Renesongs

I have recently being going over some lessons that Sach did for a guitar mag in the late 80's. I was surprised at how simply he expressed complex concepts (the sign of a great teacher) and his willingness to give away all his secrets. I must say Meir, having followed your lesson threads, you do live up to your hero's ame and are worthy of the handle Satriani. I mean I know all this stuff and have been teaching it for years but I am always looking for better ways to put it across. Your lesson on phrasing deserves a special mention and has become the standard way I now introduce people to improve (I always give you credit for the idea and refer my students to your articles on GFSA) ?

Satriani

Thanks again ? I'm not worried about getting credit for anything, seeing as I certainly didn't come up with any new concepts. I just hate reading something that is so confusing when in reality it is really so simple, if it's explained in the correct order, and in 'baby talk' if you will. I have no doubt it's down to my struggling through all these concepts, and internalising them for MYSELF. If this were all taught to me, I don't think I would have the understanding of it that I do now. Also probably helps that my youngest student is 3, and I have to explain things really simplistically lol ?

Once again, thanks for the interest, I'll try and keep up everybody's expectations ?

Manfred-Klose

Satriani.

You should compile all of your lessons in a ebook, that would be great, you can do this by using microsoft word.

I see you have alot of lessons on the forum.
I can help you out with that if you want to.

Satriani

Manfred Klose wrote: I can help you out with that if you want to.

If you're willing to explain how to di it, that would be great for the forum I'm sure. Thanks

Manfred-Klose

PM sent.

Satriani

I just hate to make promises I can't keep. I'm extremely busy pretty much all the time, and I post these lessons literally when I log on, and something pops into my mind, so a structured writing of an e-book could take some time, because I like to be very thorough and articulate. Perhaps somebody can start one up, and I can make additions to it?

glug

Thanks for this lesson Satriani. You've explained it better than the books i've read.
Thanks man

Manfred-Klose

If i can get your permission, i'll take some your lessons in the forum and arrange it with diagrams?

Renesongs

What if those of us who have the knowledge and the time collaborated and produced a whole manual for GFSA "How to operate your guitar" I would be willing to contribute my charts, knowledge and help proof stuff, Meir has aleady made a excellent start, Manfred is dying to put it in pictures maybe Alan, Vintage and others would be willing to make contributions ?

NorioDS

Renesongs wrote:What if those of us who have the knowledge and the time collaborated and produced a whole manual for GFSA "How to operate your guitar" I would be willing to contribute my charts, knowledge and help proof stuff, Meir has aleady made a excellent start, Manfred is dying to put it in pictures maybe Alan, Vintage and others would be willing to make contributions ?

Great idea but I'd really love to see this all happen in an online articles section, so people can comment and grow the knowledgebase even more!

Manfred-Klose

Great idea but I'd really love to see this all happen in an online articles section, so people can comment and grow the knowledgebase even more!

that could work.

What if norio makes a section on the website, where one can downlaod free lessons?

The reason i am so concirned about this is that these young guitar shredders is hungry for guitar lessons on the internet that is most of the time free, mostly guys who dont have internet or older brothers go for guitar lessons, but for the internet shredders everything thing is an influence. But not all the guitar/music theory on the internet is so straight forward, some of it really sucks.

All we would be doing is to encourage passionate guitar players to work even harder on their skills, and hopefully oneday start a successful band, that way music will never die out................or hopefully well never hear the lyrics that goes....."that was the day when the music died"-Don Mclean

I've got a cool lesson about the harmonic minor i'm going to post.
Anyone else got any cool stuff they would be willing to contribute and give back to the community of SA guitar players?

Satriani

That all sounds really great. The aim after all is to make sure ANYBODY who WANTS to improve and learn CAN. Manfred, you don't ever need to ask my permission to use and/or change anything I've posted. Diagrams will make everything a million times better so knock yourself out!

Gareth

Satriani wrote: The Circle of Fifths

The same works in the opposite direction (counter clockwise). IF we start on C, and move DOWN a perfect 5th, we land up on F. The F Major scale has 1 flat in it. IF we move another perfect 5th down, we get Bb. The Bb Major scale has 2 flats in it, and so on until you end up on Gb (same as F# when moving up from C)

Hope this helps ?

Excellent explanation, plus I like the idea of pooled knowledge, to which end, hopefully the cycle of fourths won't confuse, it is the same as you have explained above, but it may be easier to count 4 up from C to land on F than to count 5 back from C.