Circle of Fifths Guitar Theory Lesson

[DesiSerna]

The circle of fifths is a geometrical representation of key signatures used in writing traditional musical notation. For modern guitar players interested in developing a working knowledge of music theory that can be applied specifically to the fretboard the circle of fifths is less useful. But if you insist on exploring the idea you can easily map out the fifth cycle on the guitar neck with patterns.

Guitar players can play the circle of fifths by using the patterns taught in Fretboard Theory Chapter 6 Chord Progressions and Playing By Numbers (and also in the DVD program entitled Chord Progressions and Playing By Numbers). You can start in any key but I'll begin with the key of F using chord pattern 1 beginning at the 1st fret of string 6.

The 5 chord in the key of F is C.
Now switch keys to C and use chord pattern 2 beginning with C at the 3rd fret of string 5.
The 5 chord in the key of C is G.
Now switch to the key of G.

The 5 chord in the key of G is D. Switch to D.

The 5 chord in the key of D is A. Switch to A.

The 5 chord in the key of A is E. Switch to E.

Continue this process until you've cycled through all keys. Reverse it to produce the circle of fourths.

You can hear a chord progression based on this type of movement in the song "Hey Joe" by Jimi Hendrix. The verse progression is all fifths starting on C.

C G D A E

I should point out here that rather than try to follow each key change with a new parent major scale, Hendrix simply played the E minor pentatonic scale over the whole progression for the lead guitar solo. This works because the E minor pentatonic notes are all found in the same keys that also have the chords. The exception is the E major chord. In its case the minor pentatonic gives the major chord a blues flavor.

So the circle of fifths and the circle of fourths have limited use in music theory for guitar which is why I left them out of my guitar theory book and DVDs. And if you map out scale patterns and chord progressions properly on the fret board then you already have the concept down.

[mbon008]

Circle of fifths tool:

http://www.chordwheel.com/

Another circle of fifths tool:

http://www.ama-verlag.de/verlag/product ... uitar.html

Relating modal scales to the circle of fifths:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_mode

The modes can be arranged in the following sequence, which follows the cycle of fifths.
In this sequence, each mode has one more lowered interval from the tonic than the one preceding it, taking Lydian as the base.

Another useful tool:

http://www.guitarwheel.com/guitarwheel/ ... tions.html

Question to Desi:

How does this apply to the fretboard? Are your books/dvds so clearly explained because you avoid to describe potentially confusing conflicting and difficult to apply concepts?
There must be a way how to simplified advanced concepts in a future publication including song references!

[DesiSerna]

With all respect, I think that chord wheels and guitar wheels are useless and a waste of time. But if any guitar player out there can give me an example of how it helps his/her playing I'll listen.

There must be a way how to simplified advanced concepts in a future publication including song references!

This has already been done! See my book Fretboard Theory.

[DrH]

Hi,

I have a question about Hendrix that fits in this music "Hey Joe". When you're trying to do Hendrix tricks, that kind of melody incorporated in the chords, do you use the notes in the "key" scale, in this case Em; or do you change it, for example: when C is played, you use notes from C major scale, when G is played, notes from G major scale and so on...

Hope I made myself clear.

Thanks

[DesiSerna]

Hendrix would often use a corresponding pentatonic scale over each chord. For example, in "Hey Joe" you could fill with C major pentatonic over the C major chord, G major pentatonic over the G chord, and so on. He also would incorporate 4ths making sus4 chords.

In "Hey Joe" Hendrix uses E minor pentatonic over the E major chord creating a blues flavor.