How to read the circle of nines
If you advance with a clockwise direction, each tone is a fifth more (Do → Sun → Re→ La...) and adds a hold. If you move upside down, each step is a fourth (Do → Fa → Si) and adds a bemol. Below, Fa and Sol's are: they sound the same.
The relative minor of every bigger tone is in the inner ring: The minor under Do mayor, My minor under Sun greater and so. Both share armor and notes and only changes the note they lean on.
What's his use?
- Know the armor of a tone: Each step in the clockwise direction adds a sustained, each step to the opposite, a bemol.
- Find the relative minor: It's right under the eldest, in the inner ring, and it shares all his notes.
- To put together the chords of a song: and its two neighbours (IV and V) and its three relative minor are the six main chords of that tone.
- To understand progress: The Iii-V-I of jazz and many cadences advance in an anti-clockwise direction, from fifth to fifth.
- To transport and modular: That's why passing from one to another sounds natural.
- To order your scale practice: starts at Do and advances one tone a week, adding an alteration at a time.
Table of tones and armor
| Greater Tonality | Minor relative | Armour |
|---|---|---|
| C major | A natural minor | with or without holds and bemoles |
| G major | E natural minor | 1 sustained (Fa) |
| D major | B natural minor | 2 holds (Fa, Do) |
| A major | F♯ natural minor | 3 sustained (Fa, Do, Sol) |
| E major | C♯ natural minor | 4 holds (Fa, Do, Sol, Reg) |
| B major | G♯ natural minor | 5 holds (Fa, Do), Sol), Re) |
| F♯ major | D♯ natural minor | 6 sustained (Fa, Do), Sol), Re), La) |
| D♭ major | B♭ natural minor | 3 bemoles (If, My, La, re, Sol) |
| A♭ major | F natural minor | 4 bemoles (If, My, La, re) |
| E♭ major | C natural minor | 3 bemoles (If, My, La) |
| B♭ major | G natural minor | 2 bemoles (If, My) |
| F major | D natural minor | 1 bemole (If) |
Tricks to memorize
- Order of the sustained: Fa, Do, Sol, Ree, La, Mi, SiThe bemoles are the same upside down: Yes, Mi, La, Ree, Sol, Do, Fa.
- With holds, the tone is half tone up to the last hold (last Do) → Reg greater).
- With bemoles, the penultimate bemol gives the name of the tone (If, My.......).
- For relative minor, lower a third minor from the bigger tone (Do → La).
Frequently asked questions
What's the circle of quintas?
It's a diagram that commands the 12 bigger (and its relative minor) tones so that each one's a fair fifth above the previous one: Do, Sun, Ree, La, Mi, Si, Fa,... That's how far we can see how many holds or bemoles have each tone and what are related.
How's the fifth circle used at the guitar?
To find out what chords go together: choose the tone of the song and get that chord, his two neighbours (IV and V) and the three minor ones at the bottom. For example, at the bigger Sun: G, C, D, Em, Am and Bm. It also serves to transport a song to a more comfortable tone to sing.
What's the order of the bras and bemoles?
Stretch: Fa, Do, Sun, Reg, La, Mi, Si. Bemoles: the same order upside down (Si, Mi, La, Ree, Sol, Do, Fa). Trick: in tones with holds, the tone is half tone above the last held; with bemoles, the penultimate bemol is the name of tone (except Fa major, with only one).
Why did Fa and Sol get to appear at the same place?
Because they sound the same: they are enharmonic tones. Fa)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
What's the relationship between the circle of quits and the quarts?
That's the same circle that's turned upside down: opposite the clock every tone is a quarter above the previous one (Do, Fa, Si, Si, Mi-Mia...). That's why some call it a circle of quarters and fifths.