Circle of fifths chord progressions
The circle of fifths is often used for sequence of chords. This guide presents an overviews of progressions in all keys plus various concepts.
It's a great idea to learn all or at least some of order of sequence for chord based on the circle of fifth. It's not hard to do since it follows an obvious pattern.
Circle of fifth progressions with 7th chords in all keys
It's common to use 7th chords since they resolve well into new chords over and over. Notice that the starting chord is a major and the same is returned to:
C - E7 - A7 - D7 - G7 - C
C# - F7 - A#7 - D#7 - G#7 - C#
D - F#7 - B7 - E7 - A7 - D
D# - G7 - C7 - F7 - A#7 - D#
E - G#7 - C#7 - F#7 - B7 - E
F - A7 - D7 - G7 - C7 - F
F# - A#7 - D#7 - G#7 - C#7 - F
G - B7 - E7 - A7 - D7 - G
G# - C7 - F7 - A#7 - D#7 - G#
A - C#7 - F#7 - B7 - E7 - A
A# - D7 - G7 - C7 - F7 - A#
Circle of fifth progressions with minor chords
Major and minor chords can be substitutions for the dominant seventh chords. Some examples follows:
C - E - Am - D7 - G - C
D - F#7 - Bm7 - Em7 - A7 - D
F - A7 - Dm7 - Gm7 - C7 - F
G - B7 - Em7 - Am - D7 - G
Circle of fifth progressions with descending sequences
The presenting sequences so far have been ascending. Descending sequences is another possibility in utilizing the circle of fifths as the following examples show:
B7 - E7 - A7 - D7 - G7 - C7
C7 - F7 - Bb7 - Eb7 - Ab7 - Db7
D9 - G9 - C9 - F9 - A#9 - D#9
Concepts
Here are some ideas of circle of fifth progressions can be used in musical examples:
C7 - F7 - C7- G7 - F7 - C7 - E7 - A7 - D7 - C7
The above progression are in a blues context and using the circle of fifth progressions as a form of turnaround or bridge in the song.
G - G7 - C - C#dim7 - G - E7 - A7 - D7 - G
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