Totally related - the circle of fifths relates intervals to key signatures. A fifth is an interval with a 3:2 ratio, which is also 7 semitones. An octave has 12 semitones, so 12 keys in a given octave. Octaves start at C, so that's kinda like 0, and has no sharps or flat in the key signature. To get the next key in the circle, which has one sharp, you increase a 5th, or 7 semitones, which by counting on a piano gets you to G. To get through all the key signatures incrementally, one accidental at a time, you keep going up by perfect fifths. Once you come all the way back to C, you'll have hit all 12 keys, encompassing all possible key signatures.
That's to go clockwise - to go counter-clockwise, go up by a perfect fourth every time, which is 5 semitones.
Fun fact: a cello is tuned to C, G, D, and A, which is the first four parts of the circle of fifths.
Violins are tuned a fifth higher (G, D, A, & E), so you can count the string you are on for an easy way to tell how many sharps are in the key signature - A = third string = three sharps.
Hah, awesome! I actually played cello for a few years in elementary school, and I guess at that age they don't really go heavy on the theory. I never put this together even after learning all this stuff in high school.
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Totally related - the circle of fifths relates intervals to key signatures. A fifth is an interval with a 3:2 ratio, which is also 7 semitones. An octave has 12 semitones, so 12 keys in a given octave. Octaves start at C, so that's kinda like 0, and has no sharps or flat in the key signature. To get the next key in the circle, which has one sharp, you increase a 5th, or 7 semitones, which by counting on a piano gets you to G. To get through all the key signatures incrementally, one accidental at a time, you keep going up by perfect fifths. Once you come all the way back to C, you'll have hit all 12 keys, encompassing all possible key signatures.
That's to go clockwise - to go counter-clockwise, go up by a perfect fourth every time, which is 5 semitones.
Fun fact: a cello is tuned to C, G, D, and A, which is the first four parts of the circle of fifths.
Violins are tuned a fifth higher (G, D, A, & E), so you can count the string you are on for an easy way to tell how many sharps are in the key signature - A = third string = three sharps.
Hah, awesome! I actually played cello for a few years in elementary school, and I guess at that age they don't really go heavy on the theory. I never put this together even after learning all this stuff in high school.