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.
Um þennan stokk
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.
Spjöld í þessum stokki
Spjald 1
Spurning
In what order are sharps added to key signatures?
Svar
F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯.
Spjald 2
Spurning
What changes when you move one step clockwise on the circle of fifths?
Svar
The tonic moves up a perfect fifth. The signature shifts one step toward sharps: add one sharp or remove one flat.
Spjald 3
Spurning
What makes a major key and a minor key relative?
Svar
They share the same key signature. Their tonics and modes are different.
Spjald 4
Spurning
How can you find a major key's relative minor tonic?
Svar
Go down a minor third from the major tonic. It is also scale degree 6 of the major scale.
Spjald 5
Spurning
In what order are flats added to key signatures?
Svar
B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭.
Spjald 6
Spurning
What changes when you move one step counterclockwise on the circle of fifths?
Svar
The tonic moves down a perfect fifth. The signature shifts one step toward flats: add one flat or remove one sharp.
Spjald 7
Spurning
Why do 15 conventional major key signatures fit into 12 pitch-class positions?
Svar
Three positions have two enharmonic spellings. B/C♭, F♯/G♭, and C♯/D♭ sound alike in equal temperament but use different written signatures.
Spjald 8
Spurning
How can you find a minor key's relative major tonic?
Svar
Go up a minor third from the minor tonic. It is also scale degree 3 of the natural minor scale.
Spjald 9
Spurning
How are the conventional sharp and flat orders related?
Svar
They are exact reverses. F–C–G–D–A–E–B for sharps becomes B–E–A–D–G–C–F for flats.
Spjald 10
Spurning
What is normally true of neighboring major keys on the circle?
Svar
Their key signatures differ by one accidental. Keep the sharp-side or flat-side spelling consistent at the enharmonic bottom.
Spjald 11
Spurning
What is the key signature of C major?
Svar
No sharps or flats.
Spjald 12
Spurning
What is the key signature of G major?
Svar
1 sharp: F♯.
Spjald 13
Spurning
What is the key signature of F major?
Svar
1 flat: B♭.
Spjald 14
Spurning
What is the key signature of D major?
Svar
2 sharps: F♯, C♯.
Spjald 15
Spurning
What is the key signature of B♭ major?
Svar
2 flats: B♭, E♭.
Spjald 16
Spurning
What is the key signature of A major?
Svar
3 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯.
Spjald 17
Spurning
What is the key signature of E♭ major?
Svar
3 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭.
Spjald 18
Spurning
What is the key signature of E major?
Svar
4 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯.
Spjald 19
Spurning
What is the key signature of A♭ major?
Svar
4 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭.
Spjald 20
Spurning
What is the key signature of B major?
Svar
5 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯.
Spjald 21
Spurning
What is the key signature of D♭ major?
Svar
5 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭.
Spjald 22
Spurning
What is the key signature of F♯ major?
Svar
6 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯.
Spjald 23
Spurning
What is the key signature of G♭ major?
Svar
6 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭.
Spjald 24
Spurning
What is the key signature of C♯ major?
Svar
7 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯.
Spjald 25
Spurning
What is the key signature of C♭ major?
Svar
7 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭.
Spjald 26
Spurning
No sharps or flats — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.
Svar
C major and A minor.
Spjald 27
Spurning
2 flats (B♭, E♭) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.
Svar
B♭ major and G minor.
Spjald 28
Spurning
4 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.
Svar
A♭ major and F minor.
Spjald 29
Spurning
6 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.
Svar
G♭ major and E♭ minor.
Spjald 30
Spurning
1 sharp (F♯) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.
Svar
G major and E minor.
Spjald 31
Spurning
3 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.
Svar
A major and F♯ minor.
Spjald 32
Spurning
5 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.
Svar
B major and G♯ minor.
Spjald 33
Spurning
7 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.
Svar
C♯ major and A♯ minor.
Spjald 34
Spurning
1 flat (B♭) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.
Svar
F major and D minor.
Spjald 35
Spurning
3 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.
Svar
E♭ major and C minor.
Spjald 36
Spurning
5 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.
Svar
D♭ major and B♭ minor.
Spjald 37
Spurning
7 flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.
Svar
C♭ major and A♭ minor.
Spjald 38
Spurning
2 sharps (F♯, C♯) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.
Svar
D major and B minor.
Spjald 39
Spurning
4 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.
Svar
E major and C♯ minor.
Spjald 40
Spurning
6 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯) — name the conventional major key and its relative minor.
Svar
F♯ major and D♯ minor.
Spjald 41
Spurning
What is the relative minor of C major?
Svar
A minor. Both keys have no sharps or flats.
Spjald 42
Spurning
What is the relative minor of E major?
Svar
C♯ minor. Both keys have four sharps.
Spjald 43
Spurning
What is the relative minor of C♭ major?
Svar
A♭ minor. Both keys have seven flats.
Spjald 44
Spurning
What is the relative minor of E♭ major?
Svar
C minor. Both keys have three flats.
Spjald 45
Spurning
What is the relative minor of C♯ major?
Svar
A♯ minor. Both keys have seven sharps.
Spjald 46
Spurning
What is the relative minor of A major?
Svar
F♯ minor. Both keys have three sharps.
Spjald 47
Spurning
What is the relative minor of G♭ major?
Svar
E♭ minor. Both keys have six flats.
Spjald 48
Spurning
What is the relative minor of B♭ major?
Svar
G minor. Both keys have two flats.
Spjald 49
Spurning
What is the relative minor of F♯ major?
Svar
D♯ minor. Both keys have six sharps.
Spjald 50
Spurning
What is the relative minor of D major?
Svar
B minor. Both keys have two sharps.
Spjald 51
Spurning
What is the relative minor of D♭ major?
Svar
B♭ minor. Both keys have five flats.
Spjald 52
Spurning
What is the relative minor of F major?
Svar
D minor. Both keys have one flat.
Spjald 53
Spurning
What is the relative minor of B major?
Svar
G♯ minor. Both keys have five sharps.
Spjald 54
Spurning
What is the relative minor of G major?
Svar
E minor. Both keys have one sharp.
Spjald 55
Spurning
What is the relative minor of A♭ major?
Svar
F minor. Both keys have four flats.
Spjald 56
Spurning
What is the relative major of B minor?
Svar
D major. Both keys have two sharps.
Spjald 57
Spurning
What is the relative major of A♭ minor?
Svar
C♭ major. Both keys have seven flats.
Spjald 58
Spurning
What is the relative major of B♭ minor?
Svar
D♭ major. Both keys have five flats.
Spjald 59
Spurning
What is the relative major of C minor?
Svar
E♭ major. Both keys have three flats.
Spjald 60
Spurning
What is the relative major of D minor?
Svar
F major. Both keys have one flat.
Spjald 61
Spurning
What is the relative major of A♯ minor?
Svar
C♯ major. Both keys have seven sharps.
Spjald 62
Spurning
What is the relative major of G♯ minor?
Svar
B major. Both keys have five sharps.
Spjald 63
Spurning
What is the relative major of F♯ minor?
Svar
A major. Both keys have three sharps.
Spjald 64
Spurning
What is the relative major of E minor?
Svar
G major. Both keys have one sharp.
Spjald 65
Spurning
What is the relative major of E♭ minor?
Svar
G♭ major. Both keys have six flats.
Spjald 66
Spurning
What is the relative major of F minor?
Svar
A♭ major. Both keys have four flats.
Spjald 67
Spurning
What is the relative major of G minor?
Svar
B♭ major. Both keys have two flats.
Spjald 68
Spurning
What is the relative major of A minor?
Svar
C major. Both keys have no sharps or flats.
Spjald 69
Spurning
What is the relative major of D♯ minor?
Svar
F♯ major. Both keys have six sharps.
Spjald 70
Spurning
What is the relative major of C♯ minor?
Svar
E major. Both keys have four sharps.
Spjald 71
Spurning
Move one step counterclockwise from F♯ major. Which major key is next?
Svar
B major. The move goes down a perfect fifth and reduces six sharps to five.
Spjald 72
Spurning
How do C♯ major and D♭ major differ at the enharmonic bottom of the circle?
Svar
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.
Spjald 73
Spurning
Move one step clockwise from C major. Which major key is next?
Svar
G major. The move goes up a perfect fifth and changes no accidentals to one sharp.
Spjald 74
Spurning
Move one step clockwise from D major. Which major key is next?
Svar
A major. The move goes up a perfect fifth and increases two sharps to three.
Spjald 75
Spurning
Move one step counterclockwise from G♭ major. Which major key is next?
Svar
C♭ major. The move goes down a perfect fifth and increases six flats to seven.
Spjald 76
Spurning
Move one step clockwise from E major. Which major key is next?
Svar
B major. The move goes up a perfect fifth and increases four sharps to five.
Spjald 77
Spurning
Move one step counterclockwise from A♭ major. Which major key is next?
Svar
D♭ major. The move goes down a perfect fifth and increases four flats to five.
Spjald 78
Spurning
Move one step counterclockwise from D major. Which major key is next?
Svar
G major. The move goes down a perfect fifth and reduces two sharps to one.
Spjald 79
Spurning
How do F♯ major and G♭ major differ at the enharmonic bottom of the circle?
Svar
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.
Spjald 80
Spurning
Move one step clockwise from B♭ major. Which major key is next?
Svar
F major. The move goes up a perfect fifth and reduces two flats to one.
Spjald 81
Spurning
Move one step counterclockwise from E major. Which major key is next?
Svar
A major. The move goes down a perfect fifth and reduces four sharps to three.
Spjald 82
Spurning
Move one step clockwise from A♭ major. Which major key is next?
Svar
E♭ major. The move goes up a perfect fifth and reduces four flats to three.
Spjald 83
Spurning
Move one step clockwise from G♭ major. Which major key is next?
Svar
D♭ major. The move goes up a perfect fifth and reduces six flats to five.
Spjald 84
Spurning
How do B major and C♭ major differ at the enharmonic bottom of the circle?
Svar
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.
Spjald 85
Spurning
Move one step counterclockwise from C major. Which major key is next?
Svar
F major. The move goes down a perfect fifth and changes no accidentals to one flat.
Spjald 86
Spurning
Move one step counterclockwise from B♭ major. Which major key is next?
Svar
E♭ major. The move goes down a perfect fifth and increases two flats to three.
Spjald 87
Spurning
Move one step clockwise from F♯ major. Which major key is next?
Svar
C♯ major. The move goes up a perfect fifth and increases six sharps to seven.
87 spjöld
Circle of Fifths Flashcards: Keys, Signatures & Relative Minors
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