Description
This circle of fifths chart is a rotating card wheel that shows, for any key you turn it to, which major, minor and diminished chords belong to that key. It is colour coded, has a fold-out stand so it sits upright on a desk or piano, and comes with a downloadable eBook covering theory basics through to songwriting.
Most people who play an instrument hit the same wall: they can play chords but have no idea which ones go together, so writing anything means guessing until something sounds right. The circle of fifths is the single diagram that answers that, and it has been the standard reference for centuries - but reading it off a flat printed poster means doing the mental rotation yourself every time. A physical wheel does the rotation for you. You turn it to the key you are in and read off the answer, which is the difference between a reference you consult and one you actually use.
Specifications
| Type |
Rotating circle of fifths wheel |
| Shows |
Major, minor and diminished chords for each key |
| Layout |
Colour coded |
| Stand |
Built-in fold-out |
| Extra |
Downloadable eBook - basics through to songwriting |
| Suits |
Guitar, piano, bass, production, teaching |
What's in the Box
| Included |
1 x circle of fifths wheel with fold-out stand |
| Digital |
1 x downloadable eBook |
| Not included |
Printed book, batteries or app |
Why Choose a Wheel Over a Poster
-
It rotates - you set it to your key and read the answer, instead of counting round a fixed diagram every time.
-
Colour coded - major, minor and diminished are distinguished by sight rather than by remembering which ring is which.
-
Stands up - the fold-out stand keeps it visible on a music stand or desk, which is why it gets used.
-
Nothing to charge - it works on a stage, in a lesson, in a garage, with no screen and no battery.
-
Instrument agnostic - the theory is the same whether you play guitar, piano or bass, so it does not go out of date when you switch.
What Does the Circle of Fifths Actually Tell You?
Three things, and they are all practical. First, which chords sound right together: for any key, the wheel shows you the handful of chords that naturally belong to it, which is most of what songwriting needs. Second, key signatures - how many sharps or flats each key has, and which ones. Third, relationships between keys: keys next to each other on the circle share almost all their notes, which is why moving between them sounds smooth and why so many songs modulate exactly one step around the circle. Once you can see that laid out, a lot of music stops being mysterious.
Who Is This Useful For?
Beginners get the most obvious benefit - it turns "which chord next?" into something you can look up. But it stays useful well past beginner level. Songwriters use it to find a chord that will lift a chorus. Guitarists use it to work out where to move a capo. Producers use it to check that a sample is in the same key as the track. Teachers use it because a physical object a student can turn explains the relationship faster than any amount of talking. And anyone learning jazz uses it constantly, because the ii-V-I movement that jazz is built on is literally a walk around the circle.
Do You Need to Read Music to Use It?
No. The wheel works entirely from chord names and key names - C, Am, G7 - so a guitarist who has never read a stave can use it from the first minute. Reading music will let you get more out of the key signature information, but nothing on the wheel requires it. That is worth saying because a lot of self-taught players assume theory tools are closed to them; this one is not.
Buyers are typically self-taught guitarists and pianists, music students, songwriters, producers, and teachers buying a class set. It is also a good present for someone learning an instrument, because it is useful without being another thing to plug in.
For more, see our Gift Ideas range and Office and Stationery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is it?
The supplier has not published dimensions. Message us before ordering if the size matters for a music stand and we will ask them.
What is it made of?
The material has not been specified beyond it being a rotating chart with a fold-out stand. We have queried it.
How do I get the eBook?
It is a download supplied with the product. If the access details are missing from your order, contact us and we will sort it out.
Does it cover modes?
The wheel itself shows major, minor and diminished chords per key. Modes are theory built on top of that; the eBook covers theory more broadly.
Is it suitable for a child?
Yes for a child already learning an instrument. It is a reference tool rather than a toy.
Will it help with guitar specifically?
Yes - key relationships, capo positions and chord families are all guitar-relevant. It is not a chord-shape chart though; it tells you which chords, not how to finger them.
Is it laminated or wipeable?
Not specified by the supplier. Treat it as card unless told otherwise.
Fast Australian Shipping
We dispatch from within Australia, so orders reach Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin quickly rather than waiting on overseas transit. Regional and remote addresses go through the standard Australia Post network.
Features are as supplied by the manufacturer. Dimensions and material have not been provided and are deliberately not stated. The eBook is a digital download and is not supplied as a printed book.
