Circle-of-Fifths ProgressionChord progression · I – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V7 – I
Every root falls a fifth, all the way round to home.
In C major
Why the Circle-of-Fifths Progression progression works
Every root falls a fifth (or the next step round the key) until it lands home: in C major, C, F, B°, Em, Am, Dm, G7, C. Each chord leans into the next one a fifth below, so the pull never lets up, and the B° is the one diminished chord in the key, which leans into the Em. It is the longest chain of falling fifths the key allows, so it walks through every chord of the key in one loop. The minor version runs i, iv, bVII, bIII, bVI, ii°, V7, i, the way I Will Survive and Fly Me to the Moon go.
Songs built on it, each in its own key:
- I Will Survive
- Fly Me to the Moon
- Autumn Leaves
Heard in: DiscoGospelSwing and standardsBossa novaClassical
How to play Circle-of-Fifths Progression in C major
One voicing per chord, each the nearest to the chord before, so your hand stays in one spot. Open any chord in the chord library for every other way to play it.
Circle-of-Fifths Progression chords in all 12 keys
The same numerals in every key. Each chord opens in the chord library, and each key plays in the progression builder.
| Key | I | IV | vii° | iii | vi | ii | V7 | Builder |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C major | C | F | B° | Em | Am | Dm | G7 | Play ▶ |
| D♭ major | D♭ | G♭ | C° | Fm | B♭m | E♭m | A♭7 | Play ▶ |
| D major | D | G | C♯° | F♯m | Bm | Em | A7 | Play ▶ |
| E♭ major | E♭ | A♭ | D° | Gm | Cm | Fm | B♭7 | Play ▶ |
| E major | E | A | D♯° | G♯m | C♯m | F♯m | B7 | Play ▶ |
| F major | F | B♭ | E° | Am | Dm | Gm | C7 | Play ▶ |
| F♯ major | F♯ | B | F° | A♯m | D♯m | G♯m | C♯7 | Play ▶ |
| G major | G | C | F♯° | Bm | Em | Am | D7 | Play ▶ |
| A♭ major | A♭ | D♭ | G° | Cm | Fm | B♭m | E♭7 | Play ▶ |
| A major | A | D | G♯° | C♯m | F♯m | Bm | E7 | Play ▶ |
| B♭ major | B♭ | E♭ | A° | Dm | Gm | Cm | F7 | Play ▶ |
| B major | B | E | A♯° | D♯m | G♯m | C♯m | F♯7 | Play ▶ |
What scale to play over Circle-of-Fifths Progression
Over the whole progression in C major: C Major, C Major pentatonic. To follow every chord, switch to the scale the progression builder picks for it.
| Chord | Scale over it |
|---|---|
| I · C | C Major |
| IV · F | F Lydian |
| vii° · B° | B Locrian |
| iii · Em | E Phrygian |
| vi · Am | A Natural minor |
| ii · Dm | D Dorian |
| V7 · G7 | G Mixolydian |
Circle-of-Fifths Progression questions
What are the chords of the Circle-of-Fifths Progression?
I – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V7 – I. In C major that is C, F, B°, Em, Am, Dm, G7, C; in G major it is G, C, F♯°, Bm, Em, Am, D7, G.
Which songs use the Circle-of-Fifths Progression?
I Will Survive, Fly Me to the Moon and Autumn Leaves, each in its own key.
What scale do you play over the Circle-of-Fifths Progression?
C Major and C Major pentatonic fit the whole progression in C major. Chord by chord: C Major over C, F Lydian over F, B Locrian over B°, E Phrygian over Em, A Natural minor over Am, D Dorian over Dm, G Mixolydian over G7.
How do you play the Circle-of-Fifths Progression in another key?
Keep the numerals and move every chord by the same distance. The table on this page spells it in all 12 keys, and each key opens in the progression builder.