Free Circle of Fifths for Guitar
The circle of fifths with a chord box for every key: the major chord and its three notes on the outside, the relative minor inside. Open shapes where there is one, barre shapes marked. Free in eight sizes, in US or UK music terms.
Make it yours: see it in another style
Any US home printer (8.5 × 11 in). A binder, desk or music stand.
Download the PDFLetter, US · 81 KB
Customize this posterChange the sections, style and colors, and add your own title, in the Music Theory Poster Maker. $9 PDF.
✓ Your PDF is downloading
Make this poster yours
- Your own title, like “Mrs. Green’s Music Room”
- Only the sections you teach, or add more
- A different style: Dark, Modern or Minimal
Customize this poster →$9 PDF · try it free first
On the Letter poster (1 sections)
- Circle of Fifths for Guitar
Plus a practice tip in the space left over.
The bigger the poster, the more fits: A2 and larger have all 4 sections.
All sizes and files
| Size | Dimensions | Sections | US terms | UK terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letter | 216 × 279 mm · 8.5 × 11 in | 1 | PDF, 81 KB | PDF, 81 KB |
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm · 8.3 × 11.7 in | 1 | PDF, 81 KB | PDF, 81 KB |
| 11 × 17 in | 279 × 432 mm · 11 × 17 in | 2 | PDF, 95 KB | PDF, 95 KB |
| A3 | 297 × 420 mm · 11.7 × 16.5 in | 3 | PDF, 98 KB | PDF, 98 KB |
| A2 | 420 × 594 mm · 16.5 × 23.4 in | 4 | PDF, 121 KB | PDF, 121 KB |
| 18 × 24 in | 18 × 24 in · 457 × 610 mm | 4 | PDF, 139 KB | PDF, 139 KB |
| A1 | 594 × 841 mm · 23.4 × 33.1 in | 4 | PDF, 123 KB | PDF, 123 KB |
| 24 × 36 in | 24 × 36 in · 610 × 914 mm | 4 | PDF, 124 KB | PDF, 124 KB |
What’s on the circle of fifths for guitar
- All 12 major chords around the outside, each with a chord box and its three notes (C–E–G, F♯–A♯–C♯).
- The 12 relative minor chords on the inner ring, each with its own chord box.
- Open shapes where there is one (C, G, D, A, E, Am, Em, Dm), and barre shapes for the rest, marked “barre”, with the fret they start on.
- Using the circle on guitar (11 × 17 in and larger): find the chords of a key, start with the open keys, use a capo for the rest, and switch to the relative minor.
- How to read a chord box (A3 and larger) and barre chords with where to move them (A2 and larger).
Every chord box is worked out from standard tuning and checked: each holds only its chord’s notes, all of them, with the root as the lowest note.
How to use it
- Find the chords of a key: a key and the keys either side are its 1, 4 and 5 chords; the minor chords just inside them complete the key. Around G: C, G, D outside and Am, Em, Bm inside.
- Start at the top: C, G, D, A and E use open chords, so they’re the easiest keys on guitar.
- Use a capo for the keys further round: with a capo at the 1st fret, the A, D and E shapes play B♭, E♭ and F. The capo chart gives every shape on every fret up to the 7th.
- Learn one barre shape at a time: F and B♭ use the same two shapes as every other barre chord on the circle.
Learn it step by step
The poster is a reminder; these free lessons and guides teach each part, with notes you can play and hear.
- Circle of Fifths for Guitar
- Lesson 34: The Circle of Fifths · The Circle of Fifths · Lesson 31: Major and Minor Chords
- Using the Circle on Guitar
- Chords in a Key · The Circle of Fifths
- Barre Chords
- Lesson 31: Major and Minor Chords · Chord Formulas
Questions
Is it really free? Yes. Download it, print as many copies as you like, and share the link. No email or account.
Why are some keys barre chords? Only some chords have an open shape. The rest are the open E or A shape moved up the neck, with your first finger across the strings as a new nut. The barre chord chart has those shapes in detail.
I just want the circle, without chords. The circle of fifths chart has the keys, sharps and flats and key signatures; the circle of fifths guide explains how it works.
Which size should I print? Letter or A4 has the full circle. 11 × 17 in adds how to use it, A3 how to read a chord box, and A2 and larger the barre chord shapes.