Circle of 5ths
The circle of 5ths relates to KEY signatures in Musical Notation. Sharps and Flats.
Picture a Clock At noon is the key of C has no sharps or flats
KEY
1 oclock is G with 1 Sharp
2 oclock is D with 2 sharps
3 “ A 3
4 “ E 4
5 “ B 5
6 “ F# 6
Now the other side of the clock is the circle of 4ths:
11 oclock F 1 Flat
10 ” Bb 2 Flats
9 ” Eb 3
8 ” Ab 4
7 Db 5
6 Gb 6
Notice how F# and Gb are the same notes and each has 6.
One man’s sharps is another man’s flat.
Here is a guitar lesson video that you should check out.
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December 27th, 2007 at 11:00 am
The Guitar is generally a sharps instrument. the Classic keys for guitar
are C G D A E — which if rearranged spell CAGED. The CAGED system to chords and scales is very powerful.
For More information on the CAGED system go to:
http://www.guitar5day.com/tufg.html
January 1st, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Y’know, I have always known the circle of 5ths/ 4ths but never really understood how they did anything for my playing. It is more like a trivia fact than a useful tool. The form method CAGED has been really helpful in my teaching, just like teaching the alphabet on the guitar using the forms instead of confusing the student with numbers that can mean anything depending on the key. It is also so much easier to hook scales together up and down the neck with the method. I can’t think of an easier way to teach than this. It is cold as h*## here and about a foot of snow on the ground, take a walk for me too.