Circle of 4ths

C
G No Sharps
F
of flats
Bb
F#

D sS
ha
rps 4t
hs
Fl
a
Bb
F# C# h ts Bb Eb
5t

F# C# Bb Eb

A G# Ab
Eb

F# C# Bb Eb
F# C#
G# D# Ab Db
F# C# G# D#

E G# D#
A# F# C#
A# E#
B#
Ab
B C#
G# D#
A# E#

F#
Cb Db
Bb Eb
Ab Db
Gb Cb
Gb
Bb Eb
Bb Eb
Ab Db
Gb
Fb Ab Db
Gb Cb

Interval patterns in the major scale

When major keys are written with the tonic a fourth away from one another, patterns start to arise. For
every interval of a fourth above C, one pitch is lowered (flatted) in each scale. When major keys are written
with the tonic a fifth away from one another, one pitch is raised (sharped) in each scale. This pattern can
be represented in a circle with key centers ascending in fourth intervals going clockwise and descending in
fourth intervals going counterclockwise. There are some other patterns that come from looking at the circle
of fourths. Every other key center is a whole step away from each other and key centers across from each
other on the circle are a tritone away.

Circle of fourths as a line

C F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb B E A D G
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