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Circle of fifths guitar

The circle of fifths is a guitar map for choosing chords in a major key: start at your key, take the left neighbor as IV and the right neighbor as V, then add vi from the grid below. Use the guitar-shape column to play those sounding chords open or with a capo. Walk to the next circle position when you practise a new key.

Choose a key, then play its four chord shapes

Find the major key at left. I, IV, V and vi are the chords you hear; the last column names the shapes your hand plays in that same order. A capo raises every shape by one semitone per fret: capo 1 with an A shape sounds B♭. “Open” marks a first-position shape with open strings; “barre” marks the barre version chosen in this grid; other voicings may exist. These are practical fingering options, not different chord names.

On a narrow screen, swipe this grid sideways.

Circle order: sounding I, IV, V and vi chords with one guitar setup per major key
KeyIIVVviGuitar setup: I / IV / V / vi shapes
CCFGAmNo capo · C / F / G / Am C, G, Am open; F barre
GGCDEmNo capo · G / C / D / Em All four open
DDGABmNo capo · D / G / A / Bm D, G, A open; Bm barre
AADEF♯mNo capo · A / D / E / F♯m A, D, E open; F♯m barre
EEABC♯mNo capo · E / A / B / C♯m E, A open; B, C♯m barre
BBEF♯G♯mCapo 4 · G / C / D / Em All four open relative to capo
F♯F♯BC♯D♯mCapo 4 · D / G / A / Bm D, G, A open; Bm barre
D♭D♭G♭A♭B♭mCapo 1 · C / F / G / Am C, G, Am open; F barre
A♭A♭D♭E♭FmCapo 1 · G / C / D / Em All four open relative to capo
E♭E♭A♭B♭CmCapo 1 · D / G / A / Bm D, G, A open; Bm barre
B♭B♭E♭FGmCapo 1 · A / D / E / F♯m A, D, E open; F♯m barre
FFB♭CDmCapo 3 · D / G / A / Bm D, G, A open; Bm barre

The rows run clockwise from C through G, D, A, E, B and F♯, then continue through the flat-name side back to F. F♯ and G♭ are one sounding position; this grid uses F♯ for its guitar chord names. A capo changes pitch, not the interval between your shapes. Check the sounding names before you call out chords to another player who is not using your capo.

A circle window beside the open strings

For G major, its circle neighbors are C on the fourth side and D on the fifth side. The vi chord is Em. The diagram puts that small key window beside the guitar’s standard-tuning string ladder so you can see why guitarists also talk about a “circle of fourths.” Swipe the diagram itself on a narrow screen.

G guitar chords beside fourths across standard-tuning strings Left panel: C is IV to the left of G, G is I, D is V to the right, and Em is vi below. Right panel: from low to high, guitar strings E, A, D, G, B, E rise by a perfect fourth except G to B, which is a major third. KEY WINDOW · G MAJOR OPEN STRINGS · LOW → HIGH ← 4th 5th → CGD IVIV Em · vi Play G / C / D / Em as open shapes. EADGBE 4th4th4th3rd4th At the same fret, moving low → high usually rises a fourth: one circle step counterclockwise in pitch class. G → B is the exception.
Original teaching diagram: the left panel is a G-major chord lookup; the right panel compares open-string intervals at the same fret. The string interval is about pitch, not a chord shape.

Clockwise C → G → D rises by fifths; counterclockwise C → F → B♭ rises by fourths. On standard tuning, moving from a lower-pitched string to the next higher one at the same fret rises by a fourth from E to A, A to D, D to G, and B to high E. G to B rises by a major third. Reversing a fourth string move descends a fourth, which lands on the same pitch class as a clockwise rise by a fifth.

Teaching example: a guitar sketch in G

Invented practice sketch; no recording or song is being identified.

Imagine you have chosen G major for a short guitar sketch. Circle G on the diagram, then read one step left to C and one step right to D. In the G row, those are IV and V; Em is vi. All four guitar shapes in that row can be played in open position, so you can check the chord names without moving a capo.

Put your fingers on G, C, D and Em one at a time. Say “I,” “IV,” “V” and “vi” with the corresponding sounding chord name as you inspect each grip. If the sketch later needs to sound in A major, the A row names the new sounding chords A, D, E and F♯m; the same G-family shapes with capo 2 would also sound those names. The table’s no-capo A option instead uses A, D, E and F♯m shapes, with a barre for F♯m.

A one-key practice routine

Pick one row at the start of a session. Before touching the strings, say its four sounding chord names and point to the neighboring major keys. Play each listed shape slowly, then check that you can name what it sounds like with your capo in place. Next session, move one circle position clockwise and repeat. After twelve sessions, return to G and try to name C, D and Em before looking at the grid.

Theory and instrument sources

Circle direction and adjacent key positions follow Open Music Theory’s major-scales chapter. Major-key triad qualities follow its triads chapter. Standard E–A–D–G–B–E intervals follow Fender’s standard-tuning explanation. Capo pitch shifts follow D’Addario’s capo guide. Open-position and selected barre fingerings follow Fender’s open D guide, B minor guide, and F♯ minor guide. The grid, diagram, worked sketch and practice routine were made for this page.