Quickly Learn The Circle Of 4ths

By

Counting From 1 To 6

Then From 5 To 1

By John Axsom

0-1-2-3-4-5-6
5-4-3-2-1-0
 Learn The Circle Of 4ths By Counting Or
Sequencing The Number Of Sharps Or Flats

3 Key of C = No Flats or Sharps

% 3 smg apg smg sj B<6
d
> 3 smg pg smg sj
C F C G C

3
a B<6
d
3 Key of F = 1 Flat
b
% ap
g jf
p gap gs 60
?
m
F Bb F F
>b
gap jf gap gsC 60?
p m

bb
5 Key of Bb = 2 Flats

% pjf so pjf pg ?95

f a
Bb Eb Bb Bb
> b b pjf
F
so pjf pg ?95
f a
The best way to learn the circle of 4ths is to think in terms of number of flats
and sharps. First cadence is no sharps no flats. Next cadence is 1 flat. Next
cadence is 2 flats. Next cadence is 3 flats and so on.

Copyright 2018 By John Axsom

2

bb f g f f
7 Key of Eb = 3 flats

% b so co so pj 5B
>
Eb Ab Eb Bb Eb
> b o o o pj
g
bb
f
s c f
s f 5B
>

bb b
9 Key of Ab = 4 flats
% b og pl og o >62
c c c fs
Ab Db Ab Eb Ab
> b b b og pl og o
b c c c fs >6
2

bb b b c f c c
11 Key of Db = 5 flats

% b pl ul pl o 2?
;
g
Db Gb Db Ab Db
> b b pl ul cpl cog
bbb
c f 2?;
Copyright 2018 By John Axsom
 3

bb b b b lf oi lf lc
13 Key of Gb = 6 flats

% b u u u p ;5D
Gb l Gb
Cb Db Gb
> b b b b u u u cp
f o
i l
f l ;5D
bb
15
∀∀∀∀ Key of B = 5 sharps

% ∀ qk tm qk q @:3
d d d hb
B F∀
> ∀ ∀ ∀ ∀ qkd tmd qkd qh
B E B

∀
@:
b 3

∀∀∀∀ d h d d
17 Key of E = 4 sharps

% tm am tm qk 3C<

∀
A
> ∀ ∀ ∀ m m m qk
E h E B E
d
t a d
t d 3C
<
Copyright 2018 By John Axsom
 ∀∀∀
4
19 Key of A = 3 sharps
% mha qj mha md <7
a t 0
> ∀ ∀ ∀ mh
A D A E A
qj mha md <70
a a t
∀∀
21 Key of D = 2 sharps

% aqj ds
j
aqj am 0@
9
h
> ∀ ∀ aqj ds
j
aqj am
h
0@9

∀ j
23 Key of G = 1 sharp

% ds
mg jds ja 93B
s q
>∀
jds mg jds ja 93B
s q
Copyright 2018 By John Axsom
 5
25 Key of C = No Sharps or Flats

% smg ap
g smg sj 6
B<
d
> smg
C F C G C
ap smg sj B<6
g d
No Flats or Sharps = Key of C
1 Flat = Key of F
2 Flats = Key of Bb
3 Flats = Key of Eb
4 Flats = Key of Ab
5 Flats = Key of Db
6 Flats = Key of Gb
5 Sharps = Key of B
4 Sharps = Key of E
3 Sharps = Key of A
2 Sharps = Key of D
1 Sharp = Key of G
No Sharps or Flats Key of C

Copyright 2018 By John Axsom