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Circle of Fifths Flashcards: Keys, Signatures & Relative Minors

Practice major and minor keys, spelled key signatures, relative-key pairs, accidental order, and neighboring circle positions.

By author Open Study Contributor

About this deck

Reading a finished circle is easy; recalling one relationship without the wheel is the useful part. These 87 text-only cards make you rebuild the circle of fifths from small, practical mappings.

What the cards practice

  • Circle rule → musical change: recall what clockwise and counterclockwise moves do to the tonic and key signature, plus how relative keys and accidental order work.
  • Major key → spelled signature: name every accidental for all 15 conventional spellings from C♭ major through C♯ major.
  • Written accidental set → major and relative minor: reverse each of those 15 signatures without relying on a staff image.
  • Major key ↔ relative minor: practice all 15 pairs in both directions, keeping spellings such as D♯ minor and E♭ minor distinct.
  • Local circle move → neighboring major key: move clockwise or counterclockwise across every conventional adjacent pair, including the separate sharp-side and flat-side routes at the bottom.
  • Enharmonic pair → spelling distinction: compare B/C♭, F♯/G♭, and C♯/D♭ by signature and relative minor.

The deck leaves out ear training, staff-image identification, chord progressions, and exhaustive scale spelling. Staff recognition is already covered by the Major & Minor Key Signatures deck; this deck focuses on recalling the relationships behind the diagram.

The order starts with interleaved reconstruction rules, introduces signatures from zero accidentals outward, and then separates reverse and relative-key prompts with deterministic strides. The final block interleaves neighbor moves and enharmonic comparisons after their spellings are familiar. The review scheduler handles longer-term spacing after installation.

Facts were independently checked against Open Music Theory, musictheory.net, and Berklee Online. The questions, answers, selection, sequence, metadata, and generated cover are shared under CC0 1.0 to the extent those original elements can be dedicated. Musical facts remain common knowledge. No third-party media or protected deck text was used.

Cards in this deck

  1. Card 1

    Question

    In what order are sharps added to key signatures?

    Answer

    F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯.

  2. Card 2

    Question

    What changes when you move one step clockwise on the circle of fifths?

    Answer

    The tonic moves up a perfect fifth. The signature shifts one step toward sharps: add one sharp or remove one flat.

  3. Card 3

    Question

    What makes a major key and a minor key relative?

    Answer

    They share the same key signature. Their tonics and modes are different.

  4. Card 4

    Question

    How can you find a major key's relative minor tonic?

    Answer

    Go down a minor third from the major tonic. It is also scale degree 6 of the major scale.

  5. Card 5

    Question

    In what order are flats added to key signatures?

    Answer

    B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭.

  6. Card 6

    Question

    What changes when you move one step counterclockwise on the circle of fifths?

    Answer

    The tonic moves down a perfect fifth. The signature shifts one step toward flats: add one flat or remove one sharp.

  7. Card 7

    Question

    Why do 15 conventional major key signatures fit into 12 pitch-class positions?

    Answer

    Three positions have two enharmonic spellings. B/C♭, F♯/G♭, and C♯/D♭ sound alike in equal temperament but use different written signatures.

  8. Card 8

    Question

    How can you find a minor key's relative major tonic?

    Answer

    Go up a minor third from the minor tonic. It is also scale degree 3 of the natural minor scale.

  9. Card 9

    Question

    How are the conventional sharp and flat orders related?

    Answer

    They are exact reverses. F–C–G–D–A–E–B for sharps becomes B–E–A–D–G–C–F for flats.

  10. Card 10

    Question

    What is normally true of neighboring major keys on the circle?

    Answer

    Their key signatures differ by one accidental. Keep the sharp-side or flat-side spelling consistent at the enharmonic bottom.

  11. Card 11

    Question

    What is the key signature of C major?

    Answer

    No sharps or flats.

  12. Card 12

    Question

    What is the key signature of G major?

    Answer

    1 sharp: F♯.

  13. Card 13

    Question

    What is the key signature of F major?

    Answer

    1 flat: B♭.

  14. Card 14

    Question

    What is the key signature of D major?

    Answer

    2 sharps: F♯, C♯.

  15. Card 15

    Question

    What is the key signature of B♭ major?

    Answer

    2 flats: B♭, E♭.

  16. Card 16

    Question

    What is the key signature of A major?

    Answer

    3 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯.

  17. Card 17

    Question

    What is the key signature of E♭ major?

    Answer

    3 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭.

  18. Card 18

    Question

    What is the key signature of E major?

    Answer

    4 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯.

  19. Card 19

    Question

    What is the key signature of A♭ major?

    Answer

    4 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭.

  20. Card 20

    Question

    What is the key signature of B major?

    Answer

    5 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯.

  21. Card 21

    Question

    What is the key signature of D♭ major?

    Answer

    5 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭.

  22. Card 22

    Question

    What is the key signature of F♯ major?

    Answer

    6 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯.

  23. Card 23

    Question

    What is the key signature of G♭ major?

    Answer

    6 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭.

  24. Card 24

    Question

    What is the key signature of C♯ major?

    Answer

    7 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯.

  25. Card 25

    Question

    What is the key signature of C♭ major?

    Answer

    7 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭.

  26. Card 26

    Question

    No sharps or flats — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.

    Answer

    C major and A minor.

  27. Card 27

    Question

    2 flats (B♭, E♭) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.

    Answer

    B♭ major and G minor.

  28. Card 28

    Question

    4 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.

    Answer

    A♭ major and F minor.

  29. Card 29

    Question

    6 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.

    Answer

    G♭ major and E♭ minor.

  30. Card 30

    Question

    1 sharp (F♯) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.

    Answer

    G major and E minor.

  31. Card 31

    Question

    3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.

    Answer

    A major and F♯ minor.

  32. Card 32

    Question

    5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.

    Answer

    B major and G♯ minor.

  33. Card 33

    Question

    7 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.

    Answer

    C♯ major and A♯ minor.

  34. Card 34

    Question

    1 flat (B♭) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.

    Answer

    F major and D minor.

  35. Card 35

    Question

    3 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.

    Answer

    E♭ major and C minor.

  36. Card 36

    Question

    5 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.

    Answer

    D♭ major and B♭ minor.

  37. Card 37

    Question

    7 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.

    Answer

    C♭ major and A♭ minor.

  38. Card 38

    Question

    2 sharps (F♯, C♯) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.

    Answer

    D major and B minor.

  39. Card 39

    Question

    4 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.

    Answer

    E major and C♯ minor.

  40. Card 40

    Question

    6 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.

    Answer

    F♯ major and D♯ minor.

  41. Card 41

    Question

    What is the relative minor of C major?

    Answer

    A minor. Both keys have no sharps or flats.

  42. Card 42

    Question

    What is the relative minor of E major?

    Answer

    C♯ minor. Both keys have four sharps.

  43. Card 43

    Question

    What is the relative minor of C♭ major?

    Answer

    A♭ minor. Both keys have seven flats.

  44. Card 44

    Question

    What is the relative minor of E♭ major?

    Answer

    C minor. Both keys have three flats.

  45. Card 45

    Question

    What is the relative minor of C♯ major?

    Answer

    A♯ minor. Both keys have seven sharps.

  46. Card 46

    Question

    What is the relative minor of A major?

    Answer

    F♯ minor. Both keys have three sharps.

  47. Card 47

    Question

    What is the relative minor of G♭ major?

    Answer

    E♭ minor. Both keys have six flats.

  48. Card 48

    Question

    What is the relative minor of B♭ major?

    Answer

    G minor. Both keys have two flats.

  49. Card 49

    Question

    What is the relative minor of F♯ major?

    Answer

    D♯ minor. Both keys have six sharps.

  50. Card 50

    Question

    What is the relative minor of D major?

    Answer

    B minor. Both keys have two sharps.

  51. Card 51

    Question

    What is the relative minor of D♭ major?

    Answer

    B♭ minor. Both keys have five flats.

  52. Card 52

    Question

    What is the relative minor of F major?

    Answer

    D minor. Both keys have one flat.

  53. Card 53

    Question

    What is the relative minor of B major?

    Answer

    G♯ minor. Both keys have five sharps.

  54. Card 54

    Question

    What is the relative minor of G major?

    Answer

    E minor. Both keys have one sharp.

  55. Card 55

    Question

    What is the relative minor of A♭ major?

    Answer

    F minor. Both keys have four flats.

  56. Card 56

    Question

    What is the relative major of B minor?

    Answer

    D major. Both keys have two sharps.

  57. Card 57

    Question

    What is the relative major of A♭ minor?

    Answer

    C♭ major. Both keys have seven flats.

  58. Card 58

    Question

    What is the relative major of B♭ minor?

    Answer

    D♭ major. Both keys have five flats.

  59. Card 59

    Question

    What is the relative major of C minor?

    Answer

    E♭ major. Both keys have three flats.

  60. Card 60

    Question

    What is the relative major of D minor?

    Answer

    F major. Both keys have one flat.

  61. Card 61

    Question

    What is the relative major of A♯ minor?

    Answer

    C♯ major. Both keys have seven sharps.

  62. Card 62

    Question

    What is the relative major of G♯ minor?

    Answer

    B major. Both keys have five sharps.

  63. Card 63

    Question

    What is the relative major of F♯ minor?

    Answer

    A major. Both keys have three sharps.

  64. Card 64

    Question

    What is the relative major of E minor?

    Answer

    G major. Both keys have one sharp.

  65. Card 65

    Question

    What is the relative major of E♭ minor?

    Answer

    G♭ major. Both keys have six flats.

  66. Card 66

    Question

    What is the relative major of F minor?

    Answer

    A♭ major. Both keys have four flats.

  67. Card 67

    Question

    What is the relative major of G minor?

    Answer

    B♭ major. Both keys have two flats.

  68. Card 68

    Question

    What is the relative major of A minor?

    Answer

    C major. Both keys have no sharps or flats.

  69. Card 69

    Question

    What is the relative major of D♯ minor?

    Answer

    F♯ major. Both keys have six sharps.

  70. Card 70

    Question

    What is the relative major of C♯ minor?

    Answer

    E major. Both keys have four sharps.

  71. Card 71

    Question

    Move one step counterclockwise from F♯ major. Which major key is next?

    Answer

    B major. The move goes down a perfect fifth and reduces six sharps to five.

  72. Card 72

    Question

    How do C♯ major and D♭ major differ at the enharmonic bottom of the circle?

    Answer

    C♯ major has seven sharps; D♭ major has five flats. Their tonics are enharmonic in equal temperament, but their relative minors are spelled A♯ minor and B♭ minor.

  73. Card 73

    Question

    Move one step clockwise from C major. Which major key is next?

    Answer

    G major. The move goes up a perfect fifth and changes no accidentals to one sharp.

  74. Card 74

    Question

    Move one step clockwise from D major. Which major key is next?

    Answer

    A major. The move goes up a perfect fifth and increases two sharps to three.

  75. Card 75

    Question

    Move one step counterclockwise from G♭ major. Which major key is next?

    Answer

    C♭ major. The move goes down a perfect fifth and increases six flats to seven.

  76. Card 76

    Question

    Move one step clockwise from E major. Which major key is next?

    Answer

    B major. The move goes up a perfect fifth and increases four sharps to five.

  77. Card 77

    Question

    Move one step counterclockwise from A♭ major. Which major key is next?

    Answer

    D♭ major. The move goes down a perfect fifth and increases four flats to five.

  78. Card 78

    Question

    Move one step counterclockwise from D major. Which major key is next?

    Answer

    G major. The move goes down a perfect fifth and reduces two sharps to one.

  79. Card 79

    Question

    How do F♯ major and G♭ major differ at the enharmonic bottom of the circle?

    Answer

    F♯ major has six sharps; G♭ major has six flats. Their tonics are enharmonic in equal temperament, but their relative minors are spelled D♯ minor and E♭ minor.

  80. Card 80

    Question

    Move one step clockwise from B♭ major. Which major key is next?

    Answer

    F major. The move goes up a perfect fifth and reduces two flats to one.

  81. Card 81

    Question

    Move one step counterclockwise from E major. Which major key is next?

    Answer

    A major. The move goes down a perfect fifth and reduces four sharps to three.

  82. Card 82

    Question

    Move one step clockwise from A♭ major. Which major key is next?

    Answer

    E♭ major. The move goes up a perfect fifth and reduces four flats to three.

  83. Card 83

    Question

    Move one step clockwise from G♭ major. Which major key is next?

    Answer

    D♭ major. The move goes up a perfect fifth and reduces six flats to five.

  84. Card 84

    Question

    How do B major and C♭ major differ at the enharmonic bottom of the circle?

    Answer

    B major has five sharps; C♭ major has seven flats. Their tonics are enharmonic in equal temperament, but their relative minors are spelled G♯ minor and A♭ minor.

  85. Card 85

    Question

    Move one step counterclockwise from C major. Which major key is next?

    Answer

    F major. The move goes down a perfect fifth and changes no accidentals to one flat.

  86. Card 86

    Question

    Move one step counterclockwise from B♭ major. Which major key is next?

    Answer

    E♭ major. The move goes down a perfect fifth and increases two flats to three.

  87. Card 87

    Question

    Move one step clockwise from F♯ major. Which major key is next?

    Answer

    C♯ major. The move goes up a perfect fifth and increases six sharps to seven.

A midnight-blue illustration of twelve colored nodes joined in a luminous circle, with small musical notes around it.

87 cards

Circle of Fifths Flashcards: Keys, Signatures & Relative Minors

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