Circle-of-fifths progression (I – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V – I)

Each chord moves down a fifth to the next, staying in the key. The backbone of Baroque sequences and jazz standards.

In C major

IC IVF vii°BdimiiiEm viAm iiDm VG IC

Open in the generator (rhythm, transpose, MIDI) →

In all 12 keys

Mode: major. The capo column shows the fret where most chords become easy open shapes.

Key	Chords	Capo
C major	C – F – Bdim – Em – Am – Dm – G – C	–
D♭ major	D♭ – G♭ – Cdim – Fm – B♭m – E♭m – A♭ – D♭	1.
D major	D – G – C♯dim – F♯m – Bm – Em – A – D	2.
E♭ major	E♭ – A♭ – Ddim – Gm – Cm – Fm – B♭ – E♭	3.
E major	E – A – D♯dim – G♯m – C♯m – F♯m – B – E	4.
F major	F – B♭ – Edim – Am – Dm – Gm – C – F	5.
F♯ major	F♯ – B – E♯dim – A♯m – D♯m – G♯m – C♯ – F♯	6.
G major	G – C – F♯dim – Bm – Em – Am – D – G	–
A♭ major	A♭ – D♭ – Gdim – Cm – Fm – B♭m – E♭ – A♭	1.
A major	A – D – G♯dim – C♯m – F♯m – Bm – E – A	2.
B♭ major	B♭ – E♭ – Adim – Dm – Gm – Cm – F – B♭	3.
B major	B – E – A♯dim – D♯m – G♯m – C♯m – F♯ – B	4.

Similar progressions

Frequently asked questions

What are the chords of the Circle-of-fifths progression in C major?

C – F – Bdim – Em – Am – Dm – G – C (I – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V – I).

Which key is easiest on guitar?

The capo column in the table shows which fret to clamp so most chords become easy open shapes.

What do the Roman numerals mean?

The degrees of the key: I = tonic (1st degree), IV = 4th, V = 5th. Upper case is a major chord, lower case minor; ° means diminished, ø half-diminished and ♭ a lowered degree. That's what lets you move the progression to any key.

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