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