Minor Circle of Fifths Chord Progression
The Minor circle of fifths is the chord progression i-iv-bVII-bIII-bVI-iim7b5-V-i. In the key of C minor it is Cm Fm Bb Eb Ab Dm7b5 G Cm, and in the Nashville Number System it is written 1m 4m b7 b3 b6 2(m7b5) 5 1m.
It is also known as descending fifths sequence.
Chords from outside the key of C minor: G.
Jump to the chords and audio in C, G, D, A and E
Why it works
Every root falls by a fifth through the whole minor scale, with one diminished fifth (bVI to ii) so the sequence stays in key, then V returns to i. It is the baroque sequence that jazz and disco also adopted. It feels inevitable, because each chord sets up the next.
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 | Am7 Dm7 G7 Cmaj7 Fmaj7 Bm7b5 E | A minor |
| Fly Me to the Moon | Frank Sinatra | opening phrase | Am7 Dm7 G7 Cmaj7 Fmaj7 Bm7b5 E7 Am7 | A minor |
| Passacaglia, Suite in G minor HWV 432 | George Frideric Handel | theme | Gm Cm F Bb Eb Am7b5 D Gm | G minor |
Minor 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
- Minor circle-of-fifths loop: Cm Fm Bb Eb
- Minor i-iv-bVII: Cm Fm Bb
- Minor ii-V-i: Dm7b5 G7 Cm
- Autumn Leaves changes: Fm7 Bb7 Ebmaj7 Abmaj7 Dm7b5 G7 Cm
More progressions like this one
- Minor i-iv-bVII: Cm Fm Bb
- Minor i-bIII-bVI-bVII: Cm Eb Ab Bb
- Minor i-bVI-iv-V: Cm Ab Fm G
- Andalusian cadence: Cm Bb Ab G
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 Minor circle of fifths in each key?
In C minor: Cm Fm Bb Eb Ab Dm7b5 G Cm. In G minor: Gm Cm F Bb Eb Am7b5 D Gm. In D minor: Dm Gm C F Bb Em7b5 A Dm. In A minor: Am Dm G C F Bm7b5 E Am. In E minor: Em Am D G C F#m7b5 B Em.
Which songs use the Minor circle of fifths?
Songs that use it include I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor, Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra, Passacaglia, Suite in G minor HWV 432 by George Frideric Handel.
