Last issue we learned about the "Circle of 4ths" (also known as the Circle of Keys, Circle of 5ths, etc). I hope you memorized that circle. You should be able to recite it both to the left and to the right.

Why?

Because chords move in predictable ways, and this circle tells you and me which chords are most likely to occur in any given key.

For example, if you look at any point on the circle, and then take the chord to the left and the chord to the right, you have the primary chords for that key, or as I say, "the fam". Let's list the circle again so we can visualize it better:

C F Bb Eb Ab(G#) Db(C#) Gb(F#) B E A D G

Now bend this line (above) into a circle, with C at the top. Now you have the Circle of 4ths.

Look at Db. What's the chord to the left of it?

Correct -- Ab.

What's the chord to the right of it?

Correct again -- Gb.

Those are the "fam" -- the primary chords in the key of Db. Db, Ab, and Gb. Db is the I chord, Gb is the IV chord, and Ab is the V chord.

Now take the second to the left -- Eb. That's the II chord

Next, take the 3rd from the left -- Bb. That's the VI chord

Then take the 4th from he left -- F. That's the III chord.

Those are the "cousins", as we discussed in any earlier issue of this newsletter.

So you see, the most-used chords in any key are all "clumped" together. The least-used chords in any key would be clear across the circle -- just as the least likely people to show up at your house would be folks that are across the world from you -- maybe in China or Russia or Japan. It's possible, of course, but just not very likely.

Let's take another example. Look at the Key of D. What are the chords immediately to the left and the right of D?

Correct. A is to the left, and G is to the right of D. So those three chords are the "fam" -- the primary chords in that key. The most likely chords to occur, far and away. You can count on it.

What are the cousin chords in the key of D?

They would be the chords to the left of D (past A) -- E, B, and Gb -- (since it is a key with sharps in it, we'll call it F#).

How about the key of Bb? What are the primary (fam) chords? (Bb, Eb, F). What are the secondary (cousin) chords? (C, G, D).

Are you getting the idea?

Do you see the power in this? Once you understand the Circle of 4ths and how it works, there's no key that can stump you -- you'll understand every single key that any song or piece could be written in.

Next issue we'll continue with the circle of 4ths, and the relationships it reveals.

Meanwhile, you might check out the course shown below. Click on the link to learn more.