Home
Tour Dates
Latest News
Recordings
Song Index
Lyrics
MP3 Page
Sheet Music
Photos
Biography
Booking
Press Kit Online
Workshops
FAQ
Links
Folk Alliance
Join Email List
Joel Speaks
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Tip Jar

Contact
or send    
email
to Joel

Joel Mabus Wheel Of Fifths

A tool for transposing, finding keys and modes,
and generally understanding harmonic structure

There are two wheels above — the outer wheel is what is usually called the “Circle of Fifths” because as you move clockwise the next musical note is one fifth above the last. (It is sometimes called the “circle of fourths” because moving counterclockwise, each note is a fourth above the last.) The inner wheel shows the relationship of the notes to any given root, or keynote (Roman numeral I). As printed, the wheels are fixed so that the root is ‘C’ Note that the diatonic scale notes are all adjacent (F to B) and marked with roman numerals. The pentatonic scale notes are adjacent (C to E) and marked with a crosshatch near the hub. The five accidentals are all adjacent and shaded (Gb to Bb) with their most common names given.

The number of sharps or flats in each major scale is given above and to the right of each letter name. Common enharmonic names are given below the note. Within the diatonic scale, the names of the seven “church modes” are given — when the modal scale begins on that given note the key takes that name. For example, “C major” has the same notes as “D Dorian” or “G Mixolydian” or “A minor.” As a chord finder, the most common chords used within the key also lie close to one another (e.g. IV & V to either side of the I chord). Also the natural extension of each diatonic chord is given. (M=major, m=minor, dim.= diminished)

To use these wheels as a transposer or note-finder, the inner wheel must rotate so that another key can be selected. You must assemble it as two wheels which move freely: Make TWO photocopies or printouts of this page (or the wheel above, a gif file). From the first copy cut the entire wheel. From the other copy, cut out only the inner wheel. Then you can pin the two wheels together with a clasp through the center point, or for more durable use, mount each wheel on a disc of cardboard and then pin them together with a clasp or brad. Save this original as a master in case you need to do-over.

NOTE: arranging the musical alphabet in fifths and placing them in a circle is nothing new. However, the graphic on this page and the arrangement of the inner wheel is a new creation I have developed over the past few years.  It is my work and is copyrighted.  I offer it here to my students, whether in class or online, free of charge.  But any attempt to publish this graphic, or modify it for purposes of gain will be considered a breach of copyright law and the perpetrators will be prosecuted.

Joel Mabus 

© 2003 2004 Joel Mabus