Jim Bottorff's Banjo Page

CIRCLE OF 5ths
CHORD PRACTICE CHART



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The Circle of 5ths diagram shown below can be used to practice chord progressions.



The following diagram shows a sample chord family for the Key of C:



Start at "Home" (C) and jump left or right and return back Home.
Try this chord progression: C F C D G C


Chord Practice Chart for the Plectrum Banjo:



Click below to view or print a practice chart for your banjo:

Why are some Circle of 5th Charts clockwise and others counter-clockwise?

Both arrangements of the circle of 5ths are popular. Older books tend to show the counter-clockwise arrangement.
The chart has many uses as you can discover by searching the Internet.
Following is a use that I've found to be helpful:

Counter-Clockwise Arrangement

The counter-clockwise version works for finding notes on the bass guitar and last four strings of the guitar. Bar across any fret on your bass or guitar and the notes can be read from the circle of 5ths chart.
For example, the bass is tuned E A D G (at the nut), same order as the names on the counter-clockwise chart. Bar across the 5th fret and the notes are A D G C, as per the counter-clockwise chart.

Clockwise Arrangement

For the tenor banjo, the clockwise arrangement works for finding notes. The tenor banjo is tuned C G D A (at the nut), same order as the names on the clockwise chart.
Bar across the 5th fret and the notes are F C G D, as per the clockwise chart.