Circle of 5ths: Easiest Way to Memorize and Understand It 

As an adult, I really appreciate this being explained to me like I'm a 4 year old. I totally understand it now. You're a great teacher, thanks.

Wow… Im in my 40’s now, but I was a band nerd all of my high school career and played several instruments and NO ONE EVER explained the circle of fifths this simply to me. This is by far the BEST explanation I’ve ever heard! You ROCK!

This is absolutely brilliant. I finally understand the circle of fifths after many years. Any time I tried to work it out from a book, I could never understand it. For me, this has been the clearest explanation. Its a great feeling to finally understand some music theory. You've explained it extremely well, thank you for your help.

Gracie, I’ve played guitar for 24 years…and for the first time I finally understand the Circle of Fifths! You are a brilliant teacher, thank you 💪

I've been playing very basic guitar since I was 12. I took formal guitar lessons at 48 from a teacher who really didn't want to work too hard. He basically wrote up song charts. My brother, who took lessons from a young age, told me about the circle of fifths. My guitar teacher never heard of it, or pretended that he hadn't. I've learned more on line in the last two months than I had in 8 years of "lessons". I understand the Circle of Fifths now thanks to you. You're very clear and to the point. I know a good teacher when I see one. I was a high school English teacher for 23 years. At 60, I feel like I finally know what I'm doing.

I wish I'd had you as my music teacher back in school. Nothing was ever explained as well as this and hence I failed music theory! Thanks for finally making this seem simple.

55 seconds in and she's already compressed many an explanation into something short and easy...God bless YOU, woman! Long may you live (and play, teach and be musical!)

As a high school music teacher this is exactly the same way I came up with to teach this material to my students 20 years ago. I love that you are doing such a great job of sharing this online with so many musicians. I like to use use the Mnemonic, Father, Charles, Goes, Down, And, Ends, Battle, as it is a sort of palindrome as it reads, Battle, Ends, And, Down. Goes, Charles, Father as the order of flats. Two for the price of one. Keep up the great work.

I have been playing guitar for a long time. However, there are a lot of gaps in my music theory. I have been checking out your videos. You have a teaching style that I can connect with. Excellent content Gracie.

Gracie, until you came along I was unable to grasp this concept. I've learned more in this 16 minute session than I have in the last 3 years. You have great charm, grace & beauty thank you!

I'm a bass player that has never studied music. I have watched a few videos on the circle of 5ths and your video is the first one that makes sense. I realize that I have a lot to memorize, but at least now I feel that I will have success. Thank you for making this video. I believe it will be a huge aid in my growth and development. God bless you!

simple theory but so stunning how you explained so crystal clear! We need teachers like this!!!

I’m baffled. I’m not one to leave comments but I have to speak out. I have no idea how you do it. You explain clearly in minutes what other teachers take hours (or days) only to leave you more confused. You are truly gifted. Can you please do videos on quantum physics next?

That's the first time anyone has explained the circle of fifth that I could understand it! Thank you so much!

i have only recently taken a serious dive into theory after playing guitar for 30+ years and this is literally the only video i've found that covers the complete gamut of the circle and shows how you can identify which sharps and flats go in a particular key - you deserve a medal - this is such a eureka moment for me after so long scratching my head. thank you

Gracie's visual description is the clearest explanation I've heard. Fat Cats Get Dozy At Evening Bath-time. Be Early And Don't Get Cold Feet.

I've watched a lot of videos on Circle of Fifths, and this one is definitely one of the best... Thanks Gracie!

After watching your video, I now understand the circle of fifths. You made it so easy to understand and now it seems quite simple. Thank you very much.

For 2 years, I couldn't get this concept down. Along you come with a 16 minute video and change my life. Thank you!

I am a retired 73 year old and always wanted to learn guitar and music theory. Stated taking guitar lessons and after learning couple songs with chords he told me it's time to learn circle if fifths. I still have a busy life and looked at this challenge, honestly and humbly, with a sense of awe, and that it was going to be a tough challenge, but bless your heart, you have a true gift of teaching, and in turn, you have blessed me with learning the circle of fifths. Never too late to learn 😊

father charles goes down and ends battle battle ends and down goes charles father this is a good acronym fcgdaeb beadgcf

I'm a self-taught musician/songwriter. I'm 68 and still play. I've tried to take lessons over the years but unless you're under the age of 12, the music teachers just don't seem interested in teaching me. I love your videos because they are so informative and easy to understand. They give me something useful that I can use in my compositions. I learn something new with every video. Keep up the good work.

almost 20 years of playing an nobody ever told me the order of sharps and flats would make my life so freaking easy. I’ve paid for lessons and done theory in school and I finally get it. This is a great video and to memorize FCGDAEB I made up “Freddy Caught Goats During April’s Easter Brunch” and for BEADGCF “Billy Escaped A Disastrous Groupon Cruise Fiasco” haha

Thank you. I wish someone had taken the time and patience to explain this to me so clearly 60 years ago.

As a musician / composer who is predominantly self taught, the question which has preoccupied my learning over the years is "how" but rarely "why". So, whilst I know my scales from both the classical and modal points of view, it was interesting to go back to basics and learn why they are as they are. A clear and concise explanation..... thankyou Gracie.

I came here for the circle of fifths and just spent almost an hour listening to wonderful harp-uke songs.. lucky me. :)

This lesson has been a monumental event in my piano journey!!! I've made many attempts to wrap my brain around the "Circle" and failed miserably! You are a brilliant, articulate and patient instructor - thank you VERY much!!!

Less than 60 seconds and I hit the like button, because I have some knowledge of music theory and love the way she broke it down so anyone who have no clue can understand it. Probably one of the best break down of the circle of fifths, very beginner and advanced friendly.

As a piano student...Thank you so much...THE LIGHT JUST WENT ON! No one ever explained the simple premise that; starting with C, each ascending/descending note is the FIFTH note up/down in the scale. Duh!...Circle of fifths!!! With that one simple rule I can now write out the circle of fifths including all the sharps and flats. (My teacher's explanation was to just memorize everything). Your lesson was brilliant!❤. Subscribed.

Gracie, I can't thank you enough for making something that can be really complicated into something so simple! I've been playing piano since I was 5 years old and I learned the sharps and flats of scales by listening! As I played each scale I could hear how the, say, major scale SHOULD sound and I got to know the sharps and flats of scales by memorizing what I'd figured out by listening. I got to know how to WRITE those scales on sheet music by reading the music on OTHER songs and memorizing how they were arranged, the order the sharps and flats were placed on the songs I was playing. My piano teacher was someone who had learned piano on his own and passed his own style onto his students - he had no formal teaching, as in a school. I stopped taking lessons at about 16. I'd never really learned about the "Circle of Fifths", just vaguely heard about it from a friend who has her Doctorate now in music and the organ. As a Church musician (piano and organ) I've learned (of course) to read music, but not to be able to "improvise" very well. With the knowledge of the Circle of Fifths as you've taught it, I understand now and can definitely improvise much better. Long story short (too late! LOL!) thank you so much for putting this lesson on RU-vid! What a gift you are! :)

FINALLY A VIDEO WHERE I UNDERSTAND IT!!! I have ADHD and all other videos they’re taking too fast and being super confusing with all the editing and unnecessary sound effects

i ve read books on music theory and didn't understand until I heard you. You an amazing teacher

This video has been invaluable to my musical education. Very well done😀

That was one hell of a 16 minute lecture. You did way better than my 70 minute lecture because I understood everything....just bravo and wow

I have got to give it to you woman, this is the first time I watched a video about the circle of 5th that not only is crystal clear but quite watchable as well.

Thank you so much for the fantastic lesson, it really helps an old dog(over 60 now) like me who is a self-taught guitarist, vocalist, composer, and pianist etc

Guitarists like myself would just picture the fretboard and nail it all down. Thank youuu 👌🏻💙

I struggled for years trying to memorize all this. I do have a learning disability. After watching this, it all clicked! This video was amazing! Thank you so much for this.

Before Gracie came into this world, her mom and dad made a decision to create the best music instructor in the world, AND JUST LIKE THAT, viola! You make this stuff much easier to comprehend, thanks so much.

I'm 67 years old and you have answered questions I have had since learning to play the clarinet in 4th grade. You are never to old to learn. Thank you.

I've literally never understood the circle of 5ths until now. I was able to follow along easily your explanation of the concept was both simple and articulate. Thank you for sharing.

I'm a 32 year old college student, and you just saved my grade in songwriting class. ❤🎉 Thank you so much for breaking this down so well and going so slowly! Not every brain is wired for such things.

Brilliant Gracie. Waited for this for decades. Now at 76 I am finally informed and can't wait to bang my piano away. This is a miracle gift. You are da woman.

I am 65. Have taken lessons from age 10-16. Have had the circle of fifths explained to me over and over and never understood it. Today for the first time in my life I understand it. Wow. Thank you!

You should get a Nobel prize for explaining this. Brilliant Stuff!!!!!

"We play in five flats and get thrown out of all of them!" ~ Moe Howard 1939

I'm so mad at every other youtube channel person for making this seem way more difficult than it actually is. This is a lifesaver.

Very well explained. The Diagram makes it so simple that I can clearly understand all keys after all the RU-vid searches. You're a great teacher.

Counter-clockwise starting at 12 o'clock, it's just "C"ircle of "F"ifths (or "F"ourths) and then BEADG twice (With the first one being flat). And the order of Flats is the same, starting with the BEADG, then adding the CF. So, if you remember BEADG, you almost have the entire thing memorized already. Great video - very well explained....

I came up with an anagram for the circle of sharps that I needed to share. Fat Cats Get Donuts And Extra Bacon Or Bacon Eggs And Donuts Get Cats Fat

This is the BEST explanation of the circle of 5ths I have ever heard!! Great job !!

I’m very grateful I found this an hour before my music exam! Thank you so much for explaining:)

Excellent! As someone who plays guitar but can't read music, this is the first time I have understood how the Cycle of Fifths works

Although you always go slowly and have a perfect grasp of what your listeners can handle at each step in the learning process, you never waste a second of air time. Bravo!

after such a long period , the circle revealed its association with sharps and flats so lucidly.. superb Gracie....❤

Why would people watch this video, and tell other guitar players that they don't need to know this? After almost 50 years of playing, I've found that I do need this, and I realize how helpful it might have been to know, all those decades ago, when I was learning basic chord patterns... And I would ask them why they decided to watch this video after reading the title??? BTW, I liked it very much.

25 years as a guitarist and I've never seen it explained as simply and clearly as this. Kudos to you. Let this be a lesson to all _teachers._ Now to choose a mnemonic for the order of sharps ... I could happily listen to you read out the Greater London phonebook from A-Z.

I will have to wach it a couple times but the first time in 25 years I got a little hint of what the circle of faiths are all about. I remember my guitar.teacher just lost me. I quit. It was probably my loss but he didn't explain it anyway re e in the fashion this young lady has. Thank you. I'll get it!

This is simply the best explanation of the circle of fifths that I've ever seen 🎵🎵🎶🎶🙏🙏

This woman is.exciting because she makes lessons SIMPLE to understand! Love this woman! Cool stuff! 💐🌀💐🌀💐

Hi Gracie, I have been playing the guitar for 44 years. I recently retired and decided to take my skills to a new level by learning music theory, starting with the circle of fifths. This is a fantastic lesson which is easy to follow and provides a great foundation for my music journey. I look forward to watching more of your lessons. Thanks Gracie!

I have been playing by ear for 40 years, I am amazed how you make this so easy to understand, Thank you!!!

Great video, Gracie. For those who are wondering, Cb, Fb, E# and B# do exist in musical composition theory. The confusion lies in the tuning of the instrument. The piano and fretted instruments, like guitar, use what's called the Equal Temperament tuning system. This tuning system uses fixed intervals and divides the octave into 12 steps (tones). In Western music these 12 steps or tones create an octave, and we call this the chromatic scale. The notes Cb, Fb, E# and B# do not exist in the chromatic scale. That doesn't mean they don't exist in music. It simply means that these notes would share the same name with other notes on the instrument. If the musical composition calls for playing a Cb, and you're playing guitar, playing what we call the B note on the 2nd fret A string would be the equivalent to Cb.

FINALLY!!! at last someone who clearly explained the cirrcle of fifths. Thanks so much-Great job of teaching this old dude...

I don't want to say how many years I've been playing the piano and reading music. NOW I understand the circle! Thanks so much for really going slow and explaining it! Hopefully you break it down even further. I know there is more and am excited to hear the rest.

Frank can go dancing at every bar.

It's 2022, OMG, finally open my eyes to get this Right after 50 some years. Never to old to Learn even though it was always in front of my face, LOL ... your teaching abilities ON POINT. Ready to play with a band thanks will subscribe

I took Dobro lessons for 3 years and (IMO) didn't make much progress. THIS has been the BEST explanation of the Circle of Fifths I have ever seen. Thank you Gracie! Yes Tony explained like we're 4 yr olds. Too many musicians in their explanation do not dumb it down enough. THEY understand it already but hardly get down to our level. As told to me in the military, NEVER forget where you came from. Teachers were once students themselves!

Best music theory teacher I’ve come across. How subjects are explained is crucial, You are a masterful teacher. Thank you 🙏🏾 👏🏾

I’ve tried books, other music tuition sites and RU-vid videos but you have helped me finally understand a range of music theory concepts I thought I understood but really didn’t! Your explanations are so clear the theory just sinks right in. Thanks for all you are doing, I’m a big fan and so glad I found you 👏🏻

Best explanation of circle of 5ths I have ever seen. Love it!

Watched this 3 years ago and I go back periodically and review it as I did today. I am so excited to have this understanding I wanted to share it with my dulcimer group. They groaned, LOL. I want to also share the info in video Demystifying... where you explain whole step, whole step half step etc and then apply that to the fret board of our dulcimers and ukes differentiating diatonic vs chromatic. They groaned, again. Oh well, will keep trying. I know that the best way to affirm you knowledge of a subject is to teach it to someone else and to field their questions. Thanks so much!

The circles of 5th and 4ths are really easy if you play a stringed instrument. My mom had me memorize the sharps and flats(opposite of sharps) when I was a kid. I had no idea what it meant, but I had it memorized. Later in my 20s as a self-taught guitarist, a light bulb moment happened and now I'm so grateful to Mom for that!

Gracie, you are a wonderful teacher, so clear and concise. Thank You 🙏

I can't believe I'm benefitting from this 2 years later. Thank ya miss!

Finally I found a real teacher of music and now I'm able to understand.

You taught me more about the Circle than the 10 or 12 other videos I've watched, and made it easy to follow! The Order of Sharps and Flats is something no one else talked about. Being able to easily figure out which notes are sharp or flat in any key is super helpful. Thank you, subscribed.

Wow! I'm in music theory right now and I've been having the hardest time memorizing the circle of 5ths, this is super helpful!! Thank you so much!

I learned this 30 years ago and was really proficient but haven't thought about it in many years.... This video made it like riding a bike - as soon as I remembered my little BEADGCF trick in my head it all came back!! thank you!! I am more motivated to play now, instead of just noodling and playing the same old things over and over....

Oh my goodness, you have a magical way off teaching. Please do more, more, more ;>))

That was the best I’ve heard that explained so far, especially how you use the same order to tell which notes are sharpened or flattened in each key. I had always thought I was learning four different lists when it’s really only one, thank you so much for taking the time to teach us!

By far the best and simplest explanation of the circle of fifths I’ve ever seen!

Mme I really celebrate your way of teaching You are the best music teacher I have seen on RU-vid ❤

This is the best way I have seen it explained so far. Simple yet effective! Good work!

The teachers like you makes the concept so so easy that anyone can understand. I have watched hundred of videos but was very confused about flats and sharps. . Finally your video made the concept so easy. I have no words to express my gratitude. Thank you so so much. May God bless you and ur loved ones.

This was well explained and informative. And could not have been broken down better, I'm an adult and I've been thru alot of other videos, of which they are all unmatched. You're just a great teacher and I love your video. GREAT work ma'am 👍🙏💕🎼

I found this video RANDOMLY. Today wasn’t a study day I was on RU-vid for entertainment and this came to my suggestions. I’m glad I found this at the start of me learning / studying music theory. I been struggling with understanding the circle but this ended that frustration for me.

You have SO kept me from despair! I wish you were my local piano instructor

Wow. I'm 55, a recreational player most of those years, my father was a public school band teacher my 1st 25 yrs, after his 8 years in the Presidents Marine Corps Band, and... *I never knew this* thanks... Better late than never. I'm just now learning theory, after all these years of learning the fretboard by sound. Maybe was a better way, but I could have advanced quicker maybe, by knowing the theory of the sound, maybe, I don't know. Thanks, I'll be back for more.

This is a fantastic lesson. I have been playing guitar for 25 years. I started taking lessons three months ago and it's helped a bunch. This is on another level though! Great work and thank you for sharing!

I am 57 years old. I started playing guitar when I was 12, 45 years ago. You actually made me understand this for the first time ever. GLORIOUS!!! You are golden!!!

Thank you Grace, I’m a beginner and you explained it well better than anyone in this world. Bravo! And God speed!

Best Circle of Fifths I’ve heard. Thanks so much!

Wow, I can't explain it but you actually got through this thick skull of mine and opened my mind up and taught me something none of the other videos did. Thank you so much! You're an amazing teacher! You made a subscriber out of me!

TOTALLY EXCELLENT EXPLANATION! THE BEST I HAVE SEEN ON RU-vid BAR NONE.

YOU ARE THE S.O.S. OF MUSIC SERIOUSLY. I WATCHED THIS VIDEO EARLIER AS WELL YOU CAN SEE THAT I HAVE COMMENTED 7 MONTHS AGO FROM THIS DAY BUT MAKES ME SO GOOD TO FEEL THAT "OH NOW I GET IT" MUSIC IS SUPPOSE TO MAKE US HAPPY. BUT MUSIC TEACHING HAS MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY UNHAPPY. THANK YOU SO MUCH MAM. PLEASE DON'T EVER STOP TEACHING.

You are very good at forming and speaking about this in a way that makes sense

Wow! You are: an incredible teacher who makes the confusing easy to understand, and drop dead gorgeous. (I felt like I was in my 7th grade Art class! ) Thanks for posting.

These lessons explain everything from the ground up. Perfect!

FROM PORTUGAL. ONLY TODAY I HAD THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO FIND AND SEE YOUR VIDEOS. EASY, CLEAR AND VERY WELL EXPLAINED. CONGRATULATIONS. FROM NOW ON I WON'T MISS ONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE LESSON🤓