Feed the circle with π, e, √2, √3 and watch digits spill into musical steps. Each number traces its own endless journey around the wheel — hypnotic patterns that are equal parts math and melody.
Spin the Numbers →Spin the Circle of Fifths
The Circle of Fifths is music’s favorite wheel — spin it clockwise and you climb through fifths (C → G → D → A …), spin it counterclockwise and you glide through fourths. It’s a simple loop that hides a lot of magic: how sharps and flats build up, why some keys feel like close neighbors, and why chord progressions flow so naturally. Think of it as both a map and a game board for harmony.
Why musicians love the circle
- All 12 keys at a glance — see the whole landscape.
- Key relationships: neighbors share most notes (easy modulations).
- Sharps & flats “grow” as you orbit the wheel (1, 2, 3 …).
- Common progressions (like V → I) are just short hops on the wheel.
Spin it yourself
Reading about the Circle of Fifths is fine — but the real fun starts when you spin it, watch it, and hear it come alive. Try these two interactive demos:
See triads and sevenths mapped as triangles and squares drawn on the circle. Each chord sketch spins into a new shape, showing how harmony connects at a glance.
Spin the Chords →Takeaway: the Circle of Fifths isn’t just theory — it’s a tool. The more you orbit it, the more scales, chords, and modulations start to feel inevitable. Open the demos above, give the wheel a spin, and let the circle get under your fingers and in your ears.
Go further: Train your ear with Degrees
The circle is not just for your eyes — it’s the perfect playground for your ear. Our Degrees Trainer lets you hear scale steps (1 through 7) inside any key. First the app tonicizes the scale so your ear feels the “home” note, then it challenges you with short patterns: 1–3–5, 1–7–1, full scales and more.
You listen, sing it back, then type the degrees. The trainer keeps score and gives instant feedback, so you know exactly where you’re solid and where you need another pass. It’s bite-sized, addictive, and works on phone or desktop — perfect for daily practice.