10. The Circle of Fifths
The Circle of Fifths
Complete the circle of fifths below. Be sure to indicate the number of sharps or flats (or both) at each point as well as the major and minor keys that are represented by that key signature. Several points on the circle have been provided to get you started.
Key Similarities
Using the circle of fifths, determine how closely related the following pairs of keys are. For each pair, write the number of shared pitch letter names on the blank lines provided. Include the names of the shared pitch classes in parentheses. In the example, the number 5 is written next to “G major & A major” since there are five pitch letter names found in both keys: A, B, D, E, and F#.
| key pair | shared pitch letter names | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
G major & A major
|
5 (A, B, D, E, F#)
|
|
|
Ab major & Bb major
|
5 (Bb, C, Eb, F, G) |
|
|
E minor & A minor
|
6 (E, G, A, B, C, D) |
|
|
A minor & F# minor
|
4 (A, B, D, E) |
|
|
F major & F minor
|
4 (F, G, Bb, C) |
|
|
B minor & D major
|
7 (B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A) |
|
|
Db major & Cb major
|
5 (Db, Eb, Gb, Ab, Bb) |
|
|
C major & D minor
|
5 (D, E, G, A, B |
|
|
D minor & Bb minor
|
3 (F, Bb, C) |
|
|
Bb major & E major
|
1 (A) |
|
|
C major & F# major
|
1 (B) |
Melody Completion
A melodic pattern is shown at the beginning of each exercise below. Some patterns are one measure long, others are two measures long. Each measure is in a different key and has the key note in the bass. For each exercise, first write in the scale degree numbers for the given pattern on the lines above the staff. Then, complete the melody by copying the pattern into each subsequent measure, transposing the notes so that the scale degree numbers remain the same in the key at hand. Use accidentals instead of key signatures. The ending of each melody has been provided.
