"Hacienda de Ville" <ferrante276-haciendadeville@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in
message
news:nedqv3160d9mpcpea0p27bab6f6f2qspgt@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> What exactly is the purpose of the circle of 5ths and how essential is
> it to know?
>
> Also, can you recommend a good "beginners" book on music theory,
> something easy to understand for those of us who are newbies?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Haci
There are (at least) a couple of very knowledgeable music theorists, here,
so perhaps they'll add more.
The circle of fifths (or anti-circle of fourths) is im****tant because of
this:
The major scale of C has no sharps and no flats.
The major scale of F (a fifth below C) has one flat (Bb)
The major scale of Bb (a fifth below F) has two flats (Bb and Eb)
The major scale Eb (a fifth below Bb) has three flats (Bs, Eb, and Ab)
and so on...
The major scale of G (a fifth above C) has one sharp (F#).
The major scale of D (a fifth above G) has two sharps (F# and C#)
The major scale of A (a fifth above D) has three sharps (F#, C#, and G#)
and so on...
So, a major scale with respect to another one that is a fifth below it has
one more flat or one less sharp, and a major scale with respect to another
one that is a fifth above it has one more sharp or one less flat.
For this reason alone, it's im****tant to know notes that are separated by
fifths (or its complement -- the fourth) so that it makes it easy to know
a
given scale's key signature and also to be able to transpose a piece of
music from one key (or transposed instrument) to another.
I can't recommend any books. Sorry.
Bob
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