Circle of Fifths Explained (For Guitar) - How to actually USE the Circle of 5ths guitar lesson
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- Опубліковано 10 тра 2024
- In this video, you'll learn how to use the circle of 5ths to write songs. Learn which chords work with each other in a key.
To view the extra lesson materials (jam tracks in multiple keys, tab) and printables for this lesson, visit www.activemelody.com/lesson/h...
00:00 - Introduction
02:36 - How to find the 1, 4, 5 chords in a key
04:24 - Find a relative minor
06:07 - Chords in a chord family
11:20 - Borrowed Chords
12:00 - Minor keys
12:19 - Secondary Dominant Chords
Over FIVE decades I've asked formally educated musicians how to use a circle of fifths and nobody could explain it. Then I stumble onto a YT video that explains it all in-depth in 5 minutes!
Best explaination I've found. Ty
Me too... best explenation
Yes. I’ve never understood the circle of fifths until just now. Great job. Thanks.
Agreed. This is a fantastic explanation. Wish I could’ve heard this years ago.
Unbelievable. I’ve started reading books about it that I just can’t finish
You guys have no idea how many of these kinds of videos I've seen and there's literally NO ONE who made it this clear and concise.
I’ve been playing for 30+ years and this is the first time this had made sense to me. Thank you more than you know.
This is true genius. So many people make these concepts sound so complicated, but you have simplified it. Well done!
So many teachers don't really understand their subject, evidenced by their inability to clearly explain their thoughts.
In 3 minutes the man’s just bypassed an entire semester of music theory. Thank you.
If you couldn’t get it in a semester, why would you think that you can grasp it in 3 minutes? 😆
RIGHT!?
No he hasn’t.🤦♂️🤦♂️🤡🤡
This is more like a few weeks of a music theory class.
College is a waste of money. Nice way to be crippled by debt.
Thank you, Brian. More lightbulbs per minute per video than anyone else on the internet!
I agree.
Seconded. So many things are starting to come together each time I watch.
I have to agree with you too Brian is an outstanding guitar player and teacher, one of the very best on you tube and I think I've saw most teachers on there by now, its hard to find anyone comparison which makes him better but he has it ,definitely !
Same for me Michael, lightbulb went off! This is huge!
Thanks a lot, the first video that really helped me with the topic, great!
Thousands of musicians know the theory, but very few seem to be able to communicate it clearly and effectively. Brian does it so well in such a relaxed and clear manner that I'll just go ahead and declare him to be the most talented of guitar theory 'teachers' on UA-cam. . . . . . Period.
I’m old I learned by ear and listening to vinyl records. No lessons. We were poor. I just learned stuff but never knew why or how or what it was. Now I want to know what I’ve been doing by ear all these years. This and other UA-cam videos like this has been a huge help. Young musicians today, have a huge advantage over old dinosaurs like me. I wish the internet existed when I started. One thing UA-cam videos can’t teach you is hard luck, and bad times, struggle and fight. That can only come from life. So I hope the young musicians with these amazing resources, don’t lose that piece of humanity and expression in music along the way. That’s my only fear, is they become academics of music, instead of… Musicians. If that makes sense. Thank you for explaining this. This will certainly speed up the process for me. Instead of hunting and pecking for what sounds right, I can get to it quicker. Saving valuable time.
Simon I am with you! Wish I knew this when I was young!
Well said! I don’t go a day without thinking about how lucky I am to have access to all these resources for free. It makes it so much more impressive when I hear some of my hero’s talk about being self taught when they didn’t have access to video like these. Can’t teach passion and soul in a UA-cam video that’s something you need to cultivate
Same.
The best explanation of the circle of fifths I've ever heard along with how to practically use it. Thanks!
I agree thanks straight up
Agreed - wow great lesson. Thank You
Absolutely great explanation!
Yeah but what if I’m in the key of E? Where’s the 4 and where’s the 5? The left of E is B or is it A?
Never Mind. DON’T look at it as a piece of pie, just go back one and that’s your 4
It’s like finding the code to the secret language of guitar song composition! No one’s ever explained it so simply and efficiently. Thank You!
10 years of lessons from a Berklee/LA Music Grad and NEVER has this been so clear. Thank you!
Best Circle of 5ths demonstration thus far. Conveyed well and easy to store in long term memory.
I'm still watching (4 minutes in), but I'm blown away. The amount of compassion and understanding you have towards self-taught musicians is great. Most other courses are just "oh whatever, read this 500 pages book and you'll know your stuff by the end of it and if not, download my super cryptic cheat sheet".
In the 80’s, I spent two years as a music major and never got this. Brilliant. (I was too busy smoking pot and jamming to a jazz station. At 70, through the grace of God. I have a good ear and a thirst for “useful” theory. Again, through the grace of God, I got sober in 1986 ;-)
It's good to be tuned in on life, without shackles.
Smokin pot is better when ur older lmao, oops sorry just saw you were sober since 86 congrats.
Bummer
I knew you were sober from the first time you said "thru the grace of God"
So awesome Rick. Keep up the hard work. Glad you're still rocking out.
26 years of playing guitar, I've written more than 40 songs, and thanks to this video I've written a song where all the chords relate to each other on purpose.
This is without a doubt the best lesson on Circle of Fifths! I had years without understanding and this man helped me understand it in a matter of minutes! Thank you so much!
He is so good and educated on this,” learned a lot from this guy and channel..
Yes
Suddenly someone comes along who explains something perfectly. SIr, I thank you
Brian you are producing videos at a really rapid clip, without sacrificing quality. I really admire what you’re doing.
his videos are really top notch. what a great teacher he is.
I've been casually playing for 20 years. For the last couple of years, I have been pushing myself to master the instrument. I've even been taking theory from a person with a master's in guitar theory.
Ever so often I have these light bulb moments and they are very encouraging.
I had a few during this this video. I especially liked the part that explained locating the dominant chord. I will definitely be joining a premium membership.
Thank you!
-Chris
I have been playing guitar since dinosaurs roamed the earth and that was hands down the best explanation of the circle of fifths that I have ever heard. Well done!
My sentiments exactly. Can’t believe how simple and practical he made it!
Ditto
Same here. After half a century of thinking WTF! Marvellous.
This guy is the best youtube guitar teacher I've found.
nice to hear from a fellow dinosaur...there's always new stuff to learn, or new ways to look at old stuff
One of the things I've just sort of discovered on guitar by myself here really (I haven't seen this on any other UA-cam videos anyway) is that if you start with your first finger on the bass string on F then move two frets up and then one string down and place your third finger there then you will of course be on the 5th of F (C on the 5th string) you can now simply move up you first finger two frets to the G and then simply repeat this diagonal pattern all the way up the neck then you get the entire circle of 5ths. It's a great way to remember the order of the notes on the circle and easy to visualise on the neck. My own lightbulb moment right there - F, C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, Db etc
Great observation!
wait this is genius. thanks for sharing the lightbulb
Amazing thankyou
Brilliant!
Thank you!
You are without parallel. The absolute best teacher on UA-cam. You explain things absolutely clearly and in a way that's easy to understand. You're also concise and completely without waffle. Many thanks.
This video is amazing! More knowledge shared in 15 minutes than others share in a lifetime. Simple, straight to the point, and super helpful!
I’ve been playing guitar for 45 years and I learned more in this short video than in my whole life! Thank you so much dude! I’m going on a World Wide tour shortly!
Finally someone that’s makes it really clear👏🏽
This is by far the best YT class about the circle of 5th for guitar! Million thanks 🙏
I knew everything that he was saying about the circle at the beginning but the last bit about the secondary dominant chord really changed the game for me. I always wanted to know how people knew which 7 chords work well with chords in the circle. I thought it was probably just some jazz thing that I will never figure out but this changes things! Thanks so much :)
After years of trying to get my head around this... 15 minutes, and it's crystal clear... thanks!!!
WOW, Brian! This is the first time I heard you say "Circle of 5ths"! Great introductory explanation, you made it crystal clear in just under 15 minutes! Love the charts, the homework and all the extra stuff! What a fantabulous teacher you are! 💖
Are you a premium member? Don't mean to be nosey, but wondered if you find it useful? Just a bit concerned that that there is an overwhelming amount of info, and not sure if there is a structure to follow. I can play a bit, but don't have a lit of time so don't want to waste time. these free videoes are gold
Wow. You just taught me so much! 30 years of playing, and I had no idea about any of this. So useful. I'm grateful 🙏
Same here.
I've been playing for over 20 and just got my mind blown 😅 I've always only followed guitar tabs from songs I like but never understood how they find chords to sound good together until now
I've been playing off and on for 30 yrs and this is the best explanation I've heard. Thank you!
I was in band for 5 years and never understood the circle of fifths, and in a 15 minute video I figured it out. What an amazing teacher.
Brian, you are by far the best at breaking things down to usable simple explanations... Every video you make is littered with light bulb moments! Keep up the great work...
Definitely the best explanation I've heard. The real-world examples bring it to life and make it so easy to remember! Genius...
This is the most in depth yet simplified way of utilizing the circle of fifths. Incredible lesson! Thank you Active Melody cheers mate!
Awesome, finally something that explains the why for guitar players and mentions borrowed chords, I’ve gone through a lot of vids this was the best. Nice work!
I FINALLY learned the Circle of Fifths more thoroughly than ever before. Even from my original guitar teacher - who happened to be a studio musician in LA during the 1980’s.
me too, finally after all these years
When I started lessons as a teen, I had a teacher introduce the COF at my third lesson. I quit and found someone to teach me Johnny B. Goode. This video makes me realize I have a lot to learn about song writing.
I've been watching dozens of videos over the last few days on the circle of 5ths and this video by far was the easiest to understand. Thank you!
The circle of fifths has always been something that confused the hell out of me, even after exhaustive research over the years. Today I found clarity. Thank you, Sir.
God bless this man. Self taught guitar hack writing this and this man explained the whole concept AND how to “resolve” chords as well the relative minor better than anybody I have spoken with in 40 years. Checking out his channel now…
I can't believe how straight forward this explanation is. I've been scouring YT for years trying to find this one. Most theory people get very academic about this topic, like they're proving a geometry theorem...why couldn't they just say _this_ right here? Thank you!
🙄🤦♂️🤡
This was a brilliant lesson. Finally understand the circle of fifths for chords and also for finding the scales/modes...thank you so much!
The circle of 5ths has always been a puzzle for me,thanks for clearly describing it and making it useful.
This is by far the most useful explanation on this topic that I’ve ever heard - and the only one I’ve understood. I appreciate your time and effort creating this content, along with your teaching style. I’ll be checking out more of your content. Thank you sir
Finally! You have no idea how long I have been searching for this info. Most other videos explain what the circle of fifths is but how do I use it is always missing or not clearly stated. You are the only one I have found who has presented it clearly and perfectly explained, all in one video and in only 15 minutes. Well done. I am now subscribed! Thank you!
I have learned about the circle of fifths many times before but never knew how to apply it. This is an amazing video pitched at exactly the right level to learn. What a fantastic explanation. You pick up a lot of this without realising with experience but it's great to understand the theory underneath it. Thanks for a great video.
42 years playing guitar, first I’ve ever heard it explained this way. Nice job.
42 years…… Me too….
I have been struggling for ages to find real meaning for using the circle of fifths in my guitar songwriting. THIS is the video that finally has lit a bulb in my head and I now want to learn more!. I've always been amazed at keyboard players that seem to know the structure better than me. Thank you for this video. I'm definitely a follower now.
I have seen dozens of videos on the Circle and just left confused. This video shows how complex theory can be very simple when explained properly. Thanks for the video. It now makes so much sense! 🤘
Thank you Brian , out of all the tutorials out there regarding the circle of 5ths . Yours is by far the clearest and easiest to understand
dittos
Thank you for a very clear explanation. I went online to your web site, downloaded the materials, and away I go making chords that make sense. Thanks Brian, your subscription and lessons are an outstanding value!
The best practical explanation of how to use the circle of 5ths I have seen yet. Nice job!
I've waited 20 years for someone to explain this to me. Thank you so much sir. You have one more subscriber.
Simply the best theory tutorial I've seen on YT, or anywhere for that matter. Brilliant! Thanks for sharing it with us.
For years I have heard a number of versions to describe the circle of fifths. This was the absolute best ever! Thank you Active Melody!
Man, that's the best description of the Circle of Fifths I've ever heard, and certainly the most useful! (And I've heard a few.) Everything in this vid is practical, helpful. Thank you!
Oh my goodness! This was just the lesson I was looking for. You totally demystified the process. Thank you!
I am profoundly grateful to you for all that you so selflessly share. Unlike so many 'click-bait' videos. I can now intuitively sense these clips and immediately delete them. Now that you so brilliantly explained the circle of fifths, I am going to put up a 'blown up' version on my wall.
Wow, I've read and watched various articles and videos about the circle of fifths and this is by far the best!
This was literally the only video that I actually understood completely. I feel like it finally makes total sense now. Thank You!!
Thanks Brian. So clear as ever. That grouping of the go-to chords in the key - inner and outer rings, was very neat and so simple. I've never seen that before. So helpful.
I would add one thing. After you get your 3 Major chords on top, and your 3 minors on bottom, (ex- F,C,G - d,a,e,) 4,1,5 - 2,6,3 . The next one on the minor circle is the 7, or diminished chord. the B minor diminished
Sir, I can finally understand how to use the circle of fifths thanks to you! You explained it simply and clearly! By far the best lesson on UA-cam
Mind blown. Up to now I've thought the circle of 5ths was an overly complicated memonic for key signature's but you've just added a staggering amount of value to it! Best tutorial on the subject, hands down. Thank you!
Dude, the way you are explaining this is so easy to understand, it's liberating for me after all this time. When I was a kid, I made charts on graph paper for every key, and I'd refer to them when writing songs on guitar. It made it easier, but I knew there must be a more simple method. I knew about the circle of fifths but I didn't know how to use it. Now you opened my eyes, and at 56 years old, you have given me a new lease on my musical life. Thank you! I am going to print out the circle of fifths and put it on my piano, maybe I can get a handle on that instrument with this to help me.
This explains the composition of almost every Beatles or Oasis song I’ve ever heard. Thank you!
How so?
Composition yes, but nothing to do with actually playing music.
I've downloaded the circle. One instructor speaks about moving right 5 steps, another speaks about the circle of 4ths to the left. Your video makes more sense to me than the others. I enjoy the style of your teaching. Best $89.00 investment on guitar education to date. Good job sir.
After 50 years of playing I finally understand it! It’s what you learn, intuitively, after playing for 50 years, written out. Great job
the part at 8:35 where you revealed that the minor chords were in the inner ring legit blew my mind. Definitely the most understandable explanation I've seen of the circle of fifths
Brilliant lesson and thank you for making it simple and easy to understand in a practical way!
This is a game changer. Thank you for explaining this for guitarists. So bloody helpful! I'm so inspired to write now
A student of mine recommended this video to watch. I appreciate the practical approach in using the circle of fifths. I learned quite a bit. I'll watch this video a few more times to nail it. Thanks for your expertise and teaching style.
Wow, I have been playing for 30 years and you just opened the door with this video, best video on circle of fifths I have ever seen! Thanks!
Seriously impressive. I have been playing guitar for forty years.NOW I get it. Excellent work, sir.
Lol, me too!
I rarely comment on things, you’ve made this so easy for me thank you
Wow, thanks for unlocking the circle of 5ths! This is by far the best explanation of it I’ve ever seen.
The BEST lesson on effectively using the circle of fifths I've ever seen!!! Thank you!
Very well presented. I don't usually use this. I just rely on the scale and remember the minors are the Dorian, Phrygian and Aeolian, with the majors Ionian, Lydian and Mixolydian. While the diminished is the Locrian. Although I prefer a brighter sound of a slash chord for the Locrian than a diminished. Thank you for this though, well appreciated!
At times Brian it feels like you have a psychic eye into some of the stuff I'm actually trying to learn. I've been attempting to get my head properly into the circle of 5ths for a while and just this week so this is a massive help and very timely.
ya know I would agree with that. lol
This is hands down the best explanation I have ever heard and will be the way I explain it to anyone moving forward. Very nice, thanks for sharing.
This is the best thing I have learned in music.
I went to college for songwriting and all throughout middle and high school I played the violin. I have seen the circle of 5th so many times and no one ever explained it this way 🤯
Excellent thanks Brian. I never knew where I could borrow a chord from I would blindly try anything. I now know. Active Melody is superb.
I've said this few times now, if your not a premium member I would highly recommend it. Great content, affordable, so many lessons, monthly challenges, friendly community. Honestly you won't regret it.
How did he decide what borrowed chord to use?
Goto 11:20 of video. Brian's explains it there.
@@davidr8650 so it’s just the minor. I thought it was more than just that. For some reason I can’t edit or delete my comments anymore? Thanks
It's not just the Minor. In the key of G you can use the following as a borrowed chord. Gminor, Cminor, Dminor, Eb, Bb, F.
Awesome lesson!!!! Thanks Brian!
I'm just going to echo most of the other comments here, this explantation is amazing. It has completely opened up the Nashville Number System in a much easier fashion than the usual table it's presented in. This video concisely articulates weeks of theory into 12-13 minutes. Bravo!
As others have noted, this is a real hands-on-the-ropes explanation of the circle. Can't be beat.
What I want to add is that I've barely touched a guitar since June, getting swept away by the ukulele, but I keep coming back to Brian's Active Melody lessons because they -- at least many of them -- are useful to all musicians.
Jim
This was amazing but a little tricky when playing in the five note scale. I play a five note, seven note scale relationship leaving out the Locrian and Lydian and adding them as useable notes in the scale. Some work better ascending and some work better descending. Hendrix did a lot of this. I was taught the circle of fifths is the proper way to move through key changes in Jazz. This is correct for classical music training in major keys. Southern Rock is based on the five note scale. Excellent lesson. Pentatonic Aeolian, Ionian, Mixolydian = string bending blues style. Don't forget Phrygian and Dorian. In string bending the Locrian and Lydian are easily reached without any position change.
You just earned my subscription and a thumbs up!
Now I understand!
absolutely the most understandable explanation of the Circle I have come across in my many years on this planet! Thank you sir!
Wow! A great simple explanation. No longer a mystery. Thank you!
Brian - I've been playing for the better part of 20 years (home amateur), having taken lessons a long time ago. This video has explained more about the circle of fifths and how to use it, than ALL I've researched in those 20 years, combined. Well done, and THANK YOU! Always looking forward to the next lesson!
Most music teachers don’t actually want to teach. They want to string you along in order to continue making money from monthly payments.
Thinking about it now and you may be right.
I’ve played guitar for over 20 years. I’ve studied music theory and composition in High School, University, and taken many lessons with many teachers. That was the most useful explanation of the circle of 5ths I have ever seen. I never saw those connections before. Mind blown. 🤯
I've been staring at a circle of fifths chart on my music stand for years wondering how to use it practically. Viola! This is a terrific video. So simple.
Bravo!! Finally, someone who can explain the circle of fifths in a simple understandable fashion. I must have watched a dozen other UA-camrs try to explain this.
This finally made me know how to use the circle of fifths, so thank you for this.
P.S. I think I've now gone overboard with using secondary dominants in my chord progressions.
I know exactly what you mean.
Has any one "discovered" the Chord wheel by Jim Fleser? It is a Hal Leonard production. About 15$ and well worth it....Just sayin.
If Brian was a historian he would be able to summarize the world history in 10 minutes flat
or 10 minutes sharp
@@troykane badum tis!
@@troykane 10 minutes flat is 9 minutes sharp, pay attention
It takes a genius to explain stuff that has baffled people like us. Brian is a genius. Simple as that.
You can't summarize world history in 10 minutes nor the circle of 5ths in 15. He started out great with the easy stuff and just rammed everything together from the mid point on. Not a good explanation at all.
This is literally the best explanation for the circle I've heard. Thank you so much!
You are really the best. I have had four guitar teachers, but none of them has told me about this circle. I wish we had a teacher like you in my country. Thank you from Thailand :)
Leslie West was playing in Mountain with bassist, arranger Felix Pappalardi when Felix asked Leslie to do a solo for a song in the key of A. So Leslie started some bluesy lines, pentatonic scale as per usual. Felix interrupted and said, “No, no man- solo in F#m, the relative minor (for the Key of A). Leslie did so and it sounded really good. That night Leslie went home and wrote out all the relative minors for each key. He told this a few years back. Theory goes a long way if someone lets us in on, the practical purpose. And Brian does exactly that.
The quickest way to find A flat minor is to throw a grand piano down a mine shaft! (better not be a relative).
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
you are a legend
I have used circles of fifths for decades, but never seen this picture. IT IS SO GREAT and easy to explain to others.
This is one of the BEST music theory videos.
Never heard it so well explained! This is all pure workable knowledge!! A big Thank You!!