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.

Über dieses Lernkartenset

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.

Karten in diesem Lernkartenset

  1. Karte 1

    Frage

    In what order are sharps added to key signatures?

    Antwort

    F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯.

  2. Karte 2

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  3. Karte 3

    Frage

    What makes a major key and a minor key relative?

    Antwort

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

  4. Karte 4

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  5. Karte 5

    Frage

    In what order are flats added to key signatures?

    Antwort

    B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭.

  6. Karte 6

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  7. Karte 7

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  8. Karte 8

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  9. Karte 9

    Frage

    How are the conventional sharp and flat orders related?

    Antwort

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

  10. Karte 10

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  11. Karte 11

    Frage

    What is the key signature of C major?

    Antwort

    No sharps or flats.

  12. Karte 12

    Frage

    What is the key signature of G major?

    Antwort

    1 sharp: F♯.

  13. Karte 13

    Frage

    What is the key signature of F major?

    Antwort

    1 flat: B♭.

  14. Karte 14

    Frage

    What is the key signature of D major?

    Antwort

    2 sharps: F♯, C♯.

  15. Karte 15

    Frage

    What is the key signature of B♭ major?

    Antwort

    2 flats: B♭, E♭.

  16. Karte 16

    Frage

    What is the key signature of A major?

    Antwort

    3 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯.

  17. Karte 17

    Frage

    What is the key signature of E♭ major?

    Antwort

    3 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭.

  18. Karte 18

    Frage

    What is the key signature of E major?

    Antwort

    4 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯.

  19. Karte 19

    Frage

    What is the key signature of A♭ major?

    Antwort

    4 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭.

  20. Karte 20

    Frage

    What is the key signature of B major?

    Antwort

    5 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯.

  21. Karte 21

    Frage

    What is the key signature of D♭ major?

    Antwort

    5 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭.

  22. Karte 22

    Frage

    What is the key signature of F♯ major?

    Antwort

    6 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯.

  23. Karte 23

    Frage

    What is the key signature of G♭ major?

    Antwort

    6 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭.

  24. Karte 24

    Frage

    What is the key signature of C♯ major?

    Antwort

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

  25. Karte 25

    Frage

    What is the key signature of C♭ major?

    Antwort

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

  26. Karte 26

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    C major and A minor.

  27. Karte 27

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    B♭ major and G minor.

  28. Karte 28

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    A♭ major and F minor.

  29. Karte 29

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    G♭ major and E♭ minor.

  30. Karte 30

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    G major and E minor.

  31. Karte 31

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    A major and F♯ minor.

  32. Karte 32

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    B major and G♯ minor.

  33. Karte 33

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    C♯ major and A♯ minor.

  34. Karte 34

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    F major and D minor.

  35. Karte 35

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    E♭ major and C minor.

  36. Karte 36

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    D♭ major and B♭ minor.

  37. Karte 37

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    C♭ major and A♭ minor.

  38. Karte 38

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    D major and B minor.

  39. Karte 39

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    E major and C♯ minor.

  40. Karte 40

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    F♯ major and D♯ minor.

  41. Karte 41

    Frage

    What is the relative minor of C major?

    Antwort

    A minor. Both keys have no sharps or flats.

  42. Karte 42

    Frage

    What is the relative minor of E major?

    Antwort

    C♯ minor. Both keys have four sharps.

  43. Karte 43

    Frage

    What is the relative minor of C♭ major?

    Antwort

    A♭ minor. Both keys have seven flats.

  44. Karte 44

    Frage

    What is the relative minor of E♭ major?

    Antwort

    C minor. Both keys have three flats.

  45. Karte 45

    Frage

    What is the relative minor of C♯ major?

    Antwort

    A♯ minor. Both keys have seven sharps.

  46. Karte 46

    Frage

    What is the relative minor of A major?

    Antwort

    F♯ minor. Both keys have three sharps.

  47. Karte 47

    Frage

    What is the relative minor of G♭ major?

    Antwort

    E♭ minor. Both keys have six flats.

  48. Karte 48

    Frage

    What is the relative minor of B♭ major?

    Antwort

    G minor. Both keys have two flats.

  49. Karte 49

    Frage

    What is the relative minor of F♯ major?

    Antwort

    D♯ minor. Both keys have six sharps.

  50. Karte 50

    Frage

    What is the relative minor of D major?

    Antwort

    B minor. Both keys have two sharps.

  51. Karte 51

    Frage

    What is the relative minor of D♭ major?

    Antwort

    B♭ minor. Both keys have five flats.

  52. Karte 52

    Frage

    What is the relative minor of F major?

    Antwort

    D minor. Both keys have one flat.

  53. Karte 53

    Frage

    What is the relative minor of B major?

    Antwort

    G♯ minor. Both keys have five sharps.

  54. Karte 54

    Frage

    What is the relative minor of G major?

    Antwort

    E minor. Both keys have one sharp.

  55. Karte 55

    Frage

    What is the relative minor of A♭ major?

    Antwort

    F minor. Both keys have four flats.

  56. Karte 56

    Frage

    What is the relative major of B minor?

    Antwort

    D major. Both keys have two sharps.

  57. Karte 57

    Frage

    What is the relative major of A♭ minor?

    Antwort

    C♭ major. Both keys have seven flats.

  58. Karte 58

    Frage

    What is the relative major of B♭ minor?

    Antwort

    D♭ major. Both keys have five flats.

  59. Karte 59

    Frage

    What is the relative major of C minor?

    Antwort

    E♭ major. Both keys have three flats.

  60. Karte 60

    Frage

    What is the relative major of D minor?

    Antwort

    F major. Both keys have one flat.

  61. Karte 61

    Frage

    What is the relative major of A♯ minor?

    Antwort

    C♯ major. Both keys have seven sharps.

  62. Karte 62

    Frage

    What is the relative major of G♯ minor?

    Antwort

    B major. Both keys have five sharps.

  63. Karte 63

    Frage

    What is the relative major of F♯ minor?

    Antwort

    A major. Both keys have three sharps.

  64. Karte 64

    Frage

    What is the relative major of E minor?

    Antwort

    G major. Both keys have one sharp.

  65. Karte 65

    Frage

    What is the relative major of E♭ minor?

    Antwort

    G♭ major. Both keys have six flats.

  66. Karte 66

    Frage

    What is the relative major of F minor?

    Antwort

    A♭ major. Both keys have four flats.

  67. Karte 67

    Frage

    What is the relative major of G minor?

    Antwort

    B♭ major. Both keys have two flats.

  68. Karte 68

    Frage

    What is the relative major of A minor?

    Antwort

    C major. Both keys have no sharps or flats.

  69. Karte 69

    Frage

    What is the relative major of D♯ minor?

    Antwort

    F♯ major. Both keys have six sharps.

  70. Karte 70

    Frage

    What is the relative major of C♯ minor?

    Antwort

    E major. Both keys have four sharps.

  71. Karte 71

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  72. Karte 72

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    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. Karte 73

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  74. Karte 74

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  75. Karte 75

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  76. Karte 76

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  77. Karte 77

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  78. Karte 78

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  79. Karte 79

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    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. Karte 80

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  81. Karte 81

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  82. Karte 82

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  83. Karte 83

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  84. Karte 84

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    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. Karte 85

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  86. Karte 86

    Frage

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

    Antwort

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

  87. Karte 87

    Frage

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

    Antwort

    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.

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Circle of Fifths Flashcards: Keys, Signatures & Relative Minors

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