circle of fifths music theory Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/art/circle-of-fifths Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/art/circle-of-fifths Written by Laura Payne Laura Payne is a freelance writer whose work covers many topics. She is a former Wayne State University linguistics instructor. Laura Payne Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 26, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents circle of fifths, in music theory, visual representation of the organization of the 12 major and 12 minor musical keys and the relationships between them. The circle of fifths is so named because of its circular shape and because each key is a perfect fifth from the next. The circle includes two layers: the outer layer represents the major keys, and the inner layer represents the relative minor keys. The circle also identifies the key signature (the group of sharp or flat signs at the beginning of the staff) for each of the major and minor keys. Starting at the ...(100 of 505 words)

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