How Well Do You Know The Circle of Fifths? - Music Theory

Music Matters
14 Mar 201915:21
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video presents a circle of fifths quiz to test viewers' knowledge. It first recaps how the circle is constructed - with major keys in the middle ring, relative minor keys inside, and key signatures in the outer ring. Ten questions are then asked about topics like identifying keys with certain sharps/flats, finding relative majors/minors, ordering key signatures correctly, and reasons for the circle's structure. The video explains the logic behind the answers so viewers learn. Overall it emphasizes the importance of understanding the circle of fifths for musicians.

Takeaways
  • 😀 The circle of fifths shows the relationships between major and minor keys.
  • 🎹 The outer circle shows major keys and their key signatures.
  • 🌈 The inner circle shows relative minor keys.
  • 🎶 Relative minor keys share key signatures with major keys.
  • 🔢 Major keys go up in fifths and add sharps.
  • ♭ Minor keys go down in fifths and add flats.
  • 📐 The order of sharps and flats follows the circle of fifths.
  • 🎵 Relative minor keys are a minor third below major keys.
  • 🤔 The 7th degree is sharpened for new sharp keys.
  • ⭕ The circle ends at C# and Cb to avoid double sharps/flats.
Q & A
  • What are the three circles that make up the circle of fifths?

    -The three circles are the outer circle showing the key signatures, the middle circle showing the major keys, and the inner circle showing the relative minor keys.

  • What is the relationship between relative major and minor keys?

    -Relative major and minor keys share the same key signature. For example, C major and A minor both have no sharps or flats.

  • How do you find the relative minor of a major key?

    -To find the relative minor of a major key, go down 3 steps from the major key. For example, the relative minor of C major is A minor.

  • What is the order of sharps in the key signature?

    -The order of sharps in key signatures is F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#.

  • What is the order of flats in the key signature?

    -The order of flats in key signatures is Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb.

  • Which degree of the major scale is sharpened for each new sharp key?

    -The 7th degree of the major scale is sharpened for each new sharp key.

  • Which degree of the major scale is flattened for each new flat key?

    -The 4th degree of the major scale is flattened for each new flat key.

  • Why does the circle of fifths use F# minor instead of F minor?

    -From G major onwards, F is sharpened. So F minor is not used, only F# minor.

  • Why does the circle of fifths stop at C# major and Cb major?

    -At C# major, all notes are sharpened. At Cb major, all notes are flattened. Going further would require double sharps/flats.

  • How can the circle of fifths help in choosing key signatures?

    -The circle shows all major/minor keys and their key signatures. It can help choose practical key signatures avoiding double sharps/flats.

Outlines
00:00
😀 Introduction to the circle of fifths tutorial quiz

The instructor provides a brief recap of the circle of fifths, reminding viewers of its construction with major keys in the middle ring, minor keys inside, and key signatures in the outer ring. This will serve as a quick refresher before starting a 10 question quiz to test knowledge of the circle of fifths.

05:01
🎵 Quiz questions testing understanding of the circle of fifths

The instructor asks 10 multiple choice questions testing knowledge of topics like identifying major/minor keys, calculating relative keys, ordering key signatures, understanding scale degree patterns and the logic for ending at C-sharp and C-flat major.

10:04
🏆 Review of quiz question answers using the circle of fifths

The instructor thoroughly reviews the answers to each quiz question, explaining the reasoning while pointing out examples on the circle of fifths diagram. This serves to reinforce and deepen understanding of key concepts.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡circle of fifths
The circle of fifths is a diagram that shows the relationships between major and minor keys in music. It arranges the 12 major keys around a circle in fifths, with their relative minor keys written inside the circle. This circle illustrates the key signatures of each major and minor key and shows how they relate to one another. The circle of fifths is an important tool for understanding keys, scales, and harmony in music theory.
💡key signature
A key signature is the collection of sharps or flats at the beginning of each staff that indicates what key the music is in. The key signature establishes what notes are sharpened or flattened throughout the piece. As you go around the circle of fifths, each new key adds one more sharp or flat to the key signature. So for example, the key of G major has one sharp (F♯) in the key signature, while E major has four sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯).
💡relative keys
Relative keys are major and minor keys that share the same key signature. On the circle of fifths, the relative minor key is always 3 spaces counter-clockwise from its relative major. For example, A minor is the relative minor of C major because they both have no sharps or flats. Relative minor and major keys contain the same notes, just starting on different scale degrees.
💡intervals
An interval in music refers to the distance between two notes. Intervals are used to identify the relationship between keys. For example, keys that are a perfect fifth apart (7 semitones) like C to G make up the circle of fifths. Minor third intervals (3 semitones) are used to find relative minor keys from major keys, like C major and A minor.
💡sharp
In music, a sharp (♯) raises a note by one semitone or half-step. As you add more sharps going clockwise on the circle of fifths, each new sharp is on the 7th degree of the major scale. So the key of D has F♯ and C♯. Sharps are added in this specific order: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯.
💡flat
A flat (♭) lowers a note by one semitone or half-step. As you travel counter-clockwise adding flats, each new flat is on the 4th degree of the major scale. The key of B♭ has B♭ and E♭. Flats are added in this order: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭.
💡scale degrees
The scale degrees refer to each note's position in a scale numbered from 1 to 8. The tonic or home note is 1st degree. In the quiz, it refers to sharpening the 7th degree and flattening the 4th degree as you go around the circle of fifths to find the new key signatures.
💡double sharps/flats
Double sharps (x) or double flats (♭♭) raise or lower a note by two semitones. They are needed if you continue the circle of fifths past C♯ and C♭. However, pieces typically stay within the main circle to avoid complex key signatures with double accidentals.
💡transpose
Transposing means shifting music into another key. Due to its layout, the circle of fifths shows how to easily transpose pieces to other keys. For example, transposing a song from G to D major just requires adding 2 sharps based on the circle.
💡harmony
Harmony refers to how chords are constructed and progress in a musical piece or scale. The circle of fifths relationships reveal the patterns and compatibility between chords and keys. This supports understanding harmony and building chords in a key.
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