Key Signature

Flats Sharps

Bb F#

C
F Major Triad G
C-E-G
Eb

F-A-C

F#
G-B-D

, C#
Bb,

B Dm
Relative
Minor
Am
D
B -D-F Em D-F -A

Gm Bm
Circle
Bb, Eb, Ab

F#, C#, G#
E E -G-B Cm of Fm A-C -E

Fm
Fifths Cm
A -C-E Bm Dm Gm E-G -B

A
or

E
Bb,

Em

, D#
Eb,

, G#
D -F-A F -A -C B-D -F
Ab

or

C#
,D

D
G -B -D
B
,
F#
b

F
Bb
,E
G
b, A#
Ab or #,
, Db #,D
, Gb F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E# C#,G
F#,
Bb, Eb, or
Ab, Db, Gb, Cb

Here's the magic Circle of CW Fifths (or Fourths in the CCW direction) that contains just about everything
we need to know about the major keys, including their relative minor keys, key signatures, scales, and
triad chords. Here's how it works: If you select any major key on the hot pink circle, its Tonic triad I is the
center (of three adjacent keys), its Subdominant chord IV is its CCW neighbor, and its Dominant chord V is
its CW neighbor. On the orange circle, the center is its relative minor and Submediant chord vim, the CCW
neighbor is the Subtonic chord iim, and its CW neighbor is the Mediant chord iim. On the middle circle
are the three notes that make up the I triad. For instance, take the key of A, whose neighbors are D in the
CCW direction and E in the CW direction. A major is the I triad (A-C#-E), D is the IV triad, E is the V triad, F#
is the relative minor and root note of the vim chord, B minor is the iim chord, and C# minor is the vim
chord. It's to our advantage to put this circle to memory.