Diatonic Circle of Fifths Chord Progression
The Diatonic circle of fifths is the chord progression I-IV-viidim-iii-vi-ii-V-I. In the key of C major it is C F Bdim Em Am Dm G C, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 1 4 7dim 3m 6m 2m 5 1.
It is also known as circle of fifths progression, diatonic cycle.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
The roots walk through all seven notes of the major scale in falling fifths, with one diminished fifth between IV and vii so the sequence stays in key. It was a Baroque staple, especially in minor. It feels unstoppable because each chord sets up the next one in the same way.
Songs that use it
These are the chords as played in each song, in the song's own key.
| Song | Artist | Section | Chords | Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I Will Survive | Gloria Gaynor | verse and chorus | Am Dm G Cmaj7 Fmaj7 Bm7(b5) E7sus4 E7 | A minor |
| Passacaglia, Suite in G minor HWV 432 | George Frideric Handel | main theme | minor form of the cycle | G minor |
| Fly Me to the Moon | Bart Howard | A section | Am7 | Dm7 | G7 | Cmaj7 | Fmaj7 | Bm7b5 | E7 | Am7 | C major |
Diatonic Circle of Fifths Chord Progression: Chords and Audio in C, G, D, A and E
Press play to hear each key. The diagrams show the shapes used in the audio, and every chord links to its full page.
Shorter progressions inside it
- ii-V-I: Dm G C
- iii-vi-ii-V: Em Am Dm G
More progressions like this one
- iii-VI-ii-V turnaround: Em A7 Dm G7
- Sears Roebuck bridge: E7 A7 D7 G7
- Tritone substitution cadence: Dm7 Db7 Cmaj7
- Tadd Dameron turnaround: Cmaj7 Eb7 Ab7 Db7
All guitar chord progressions →
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What are the chords of the Diatonic circle of fifths in each key?
In C major: C F Bdim Em Am Dm G C. In G major: G C F#dim Bm Em Am D G. In D major: D G C#dim F#m Bm Em A D. In A major: A D G#dim C#m F#m Bm E A. In E major: E A D#dim G#m C#m F#m B E.
Which songs use the Diatonic circle of fifths?
Songs that use it include I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor, Passacaglia, Suite in G minor HWV 432 by George Frideric Handel, Fly Me to the Moon by Bart Howard.
