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.

Sobre aquesta baralla

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.

Targetes d'aquesta baralla

  1. Targeta 1

    Pregunta

    In what order are sharps added to key signatures?

    Resposta

    F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯.

  2. Targeta 2

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  3. Targeta 3

    Pregunta

    What makes a major key and a minor key relative?

    Resposta

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

  4. Targeta 4

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  5. Targeta 5

    Pregunta

    In what order are flats added to key signatures?

    Resposta

    B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭.

  6. Targeta 6

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  7. Targeta 7

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  8. Targeta 8

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  9. Targeta 9

    Pregunta

    How are the conventional sharp and flat orders related?

    Resposta

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

  10. Targeta 10

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  11. Targeta 11

    Pregunta

    What is the key signature of C major?

    Resposta

    No sharps or flats.

  12. Targeta 12

    Pregunta

    What is the key signature of G major?

    Resposta

    1 sharp: F♯.

  13. Targeta 13

    Pregunta

    What is the key signature of F major?

    Resposta

    1 flat: B♭.

  14. Targeta 14

    Pregunta

    What is the key signature of D major?

    Resposta

    2 sharps: F♯, C♯.

  15. Targeta 15

    Pregunta

    What is the key signature of B♭ major?

    Resposta

    2 flats: B♭, E♭.

  16. Targeta 16

    Pregunta

    What is the key signature of A major?

    Resposta

    3 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯.

  17. Targeta 17

    Pregunta

    What is the key signature of E♭ major?

    Resposta

    3 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭.

  18. Targeta 18

    Pregunta

    What is the key signature of E major?

    Resposta

    4 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯.

  19. Targeta 19

    Pregunta

    What is the key signature of A♭ major?

    Resposta

    4 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭.

  20. Targeta 20

    Pregunta

    What is the key signature of B major?

    Resposta

    5 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯.

  21. Targeta 21

    Pregunta

    What is the key signature of D♭ major?

    Resposta

    5 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭.

  22. Targeta 22

    Pregunta

    What is the key signature of F♯ major?

    Resposta

    6 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯.

  23. Targeta 23

    Pregunta

    What is the key signature of G♭ major?

    Resposta

    6 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭.

  24. Targeta 24

    Pregunta

    What is the key signature of C♯ major?

    Resposta

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

  25. Targeta 25

    Pregunta

    What is the key signature of C♭ major?

    Resposta

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

  26. Targeta 26

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    C major and A minor.

  27. Targeta 27

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    B♭ major and G minor.

  28. Targeta 28

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    A♭ major and F minor.

  29. Targeta 29

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    G♭ major and E♭ minor.

  30. Targeta 30

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    G major and E minor.

  31. Targeta 31

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    A major and F♯ minor.

  32. Targeta 32

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    B major and G♯ minor.

  33. Targeta 33

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    C♯ major and A♯ minor.

  34. Targeta 34

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    F major and D minor.

  35. Targeta 35

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    E♭ major and C minor.

  36. Targeta 36

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    D♭ major and B♭ minor.

  37. Targeta 37

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    C♭ major and A♭ minor.

  38. Targeta 38

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    D major and B minor.

  39. Targeta 39

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    E major and C♯ minor.

  40. Targeta 40

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    F♯ major and D♯ minor.

  41. Targeta 41

    Pregunta

    What is the relative minor of C major?

    Resposta

    A minor. Both keys have no sharps or flats.

  42. Targeta 42

    Pregunta

    What is the relative minor of E major?

    Resposta

    C♯ minor. Both keys have four sharps.

  43. Targeta 43

    Pregunta

    What is the relative minor of C♭ major?

    Resposta

    A♭ minor. Both keys have seven flats.

  44. Targeta 44

    Pregunta

    What is the relative minor of E♭ major?

    Resposta

    C minor. Both keys have three flats.

  45. Targeta 45

    Pregunta

    What is the relative minor of C♯ major?

    Resposta

    A♯ minor. Both keys have seven sharps.

  46. Targeta 46

    Pregunta

    What is the relative minor of A major?

    Resposta

    F♯ minor. Both keys have three sharps.

  47. Targeta 47

    Pregunta

    What is the relative minor of G♭ major?

    Resposta

    E♭ minor. Both keys have six flats.

  48. Targeta 48

    Pregunta

    What is the relative minor of B♭ major?

    Resposta

    G minor. Both keys have two flats.

  49. Targeta 49

    Pregunta

    What is the relative minor of F♯ major?

    Resposta

    D♯ minor. Both keys have six sharps.

  50. Targeta 50

    Pregunta

    What is the relative minor of D major?

    Resposta

    B minor. Both keys have two sharps.

  51. Targeta 51

    Pregunta

    What is the relative minor of D♭ major?

    Resposta

    B♭ minor. Both keys have five flats.

  52. Targeta 52

    Pregunta

    What is the relative minor of F major?

    Resposta

    D minor. Both keys have one flat.

  53. Targeta 53

    Pregunta

    What is the relative minor of B major?

    Resposta

    G♯ minor. Both keys have five sharps.

  54. Targeta 54

    Pregunta

    What is the relative minor of G major?

    Resposta

    E minor. Both keys have one sharp.

  55. Targeta 55

    Pregunta

    What is the relative minor of A♭ major?

    Resposta

    F minor. Both keys have four flats.

  56. Targeta 56

    Pregunta

    What is the relative major of B minor?

    Resposta

    D major. Both keys have two sharps.

  57. Targeta 57

    Pregunta

    What is the relative major of A♭ minor?

    Resposta

    C♭ major. Both keys have seven flats.

  58. Targeta 58

    Pregunta

    What is the relative major of B♭ minor?

    Resposta

    D♭ major. Both keys have five flats.

  59. Targeta 59

    Pregunta

    What is the relative major of C minor?

    Resposta

    E♭ major. Both keys have three flats.

  60. Targeta 60

    Pregunta

    What is the relative major of D minor?

    Resposta

    F major. Both keys have one flat.

  61. Targeta 61

    Pregunta

    What is the relative major of A♯ minor?

    Resposta

    C♯ major. Both keys have seven sharps.

  62. Targeta 62

    Pregunta

    What is the relative major of G♯ minor?

    Resposta

    B major. Both keys have five sharps.

  63. Targeta 63

    Pregunta

    What is the relative major of F♯ minor?

    Resposta

    A major. Both keys have three sharps.

  64. Targeta 64

    Pregunta

    What is the relative major of E minor?

    Resposta

    G major. Both keys have one sharp.

  65. Targeta 65

    Pregunta

    What is the relative major of E♭ minor?

    Resposta

    G♭ major. Both keys have six flats.

  66. Targeta 66

    Pregunta

    What is the relative major of F minor?

    Resposta

    A♭ major. Both keys have four flats.

  67. Targeta 67

    Pregunta

    What is the relative major of G minor?

    Resposta

    B♭ major. Both keys have two flats.

  68. Targeta 68

    Pregunta

    What is the relative major of A minor?

    Resposta

    C major. Both keys have no sharps or flats.

  69. Targeta 69

    Pregunta

    What is the relative major of D♯ minor?

    Resposta

    F♯ major. Both keys have six sharps.

  70. Targeta 70

    Pregunta

    What is the relative major of C♯ minor?

    Resposta

    E major. Both keys have four sharps.

  71. Targeta 71

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  72. Targeta 72

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    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. Targeta 73

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  74. Targeta 74

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  75. Targeta 75

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  76. Targeta 76

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  77. Targeta 77

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  78. Targeta 78

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  79. Targeta 79

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    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. Targeta 80

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  81. Targeta 81

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  82. Targeta 82

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  83. Targeta 83

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  84. Targeta 84

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    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. Targeta 85

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  86. Targeta 86

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

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

  87. Targeta 87

    Pregunta

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

    Resposta

    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 targetes

Circle of Fifths Flashcards: Keys, Signatures & Relative Minors

Estudia aquesta baralla de franc

Nibomo s'obre perquè puguis començar a estudiar.