|
"473-6251, Songwriters Call Home"
Understanding The Circle Of Fifths
By Mike Overly
Author of the Guitar and Bass EncycloMedia BooksThe other day a student wanted to know how
to write a song? That's easy, I replied. Just apply your TALENT
and CREATIVITY to the Circle of Fifths - 4736251. You can't help
but write a song and you might even write a HIT SONG!
Now, just what is the "circle of fifths"? Once again, we'll
begin with the "oldies".
When Pythagoras discovered the "Perfect" 4th and 5th
intervals he made it possible for us to locate the same letter,
from any starting letter, by moving either "up" toward the
bridge (higher in pitch) or "down" toward the nut (lower in
pitch).
For example, to arrive at tone 4 from tone 1 (Root) we may
either "move up a perfect 4th" ( 5 frets) or "move down a
perfect 5th" (7 frets). The C Major Scale is illustrated as
letters and tones on the 6th string in Figure 1.
By applying this "down a 5th"
principle we can arrange the 12 tones of Music "clock-wise"
around a circle. The "Circle of 5ths" is shown in Figure 2.
As we learned previously, by selecting every other tone or
letter of the major scale, 7 chords may be "spelled". Lets
illustrate the C major scale as tones (Arabic numbers), letters
and 7 chord triads (Roman Numerals). See Figure 3.
If we select only the 7 tones, letters and chord triads of
the C major scale, in the Circle of 5ths order, we notice a
"re-arrangement" of the tones: 4736251, letters: FBEADGC and
chords: IV viib5 iii vi ii V I. See figure 4.
Now, when we arrange these 7 chords equal-distant around a
circle, and draw lines to connect them in the circle of 5ths
order - the Songwriter's 7 pointed star is revealed! See figure
5.
Of course you may play any combination of chords you wish.
However, a vast majority of chord progressions follow the circle
of 5ths order. Let's explore a few of the virtually infinite
number of possible combinations (chord progressions). See
Figures 6 through 14.
And untill next time, have some fun writing those hits! I'll
be listening...
Back To Encyclomedia Lessons |
