4 levels of the Circle of Fifths

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0:00 Introduction
0:31 key signatures
3:22 related keys
6:07 ToneGym
6:46 chord progressions
9:03 modal brightness
11:29 why the circle of fifths?
12:39 piano outro & Patreon

[@briancunning423]

Couldn't you have thought of a fifth way?

[@pbrecipe2443]

lol😂

[@z.d.davidson]

exactly my thought. The fifth way might be something along the lines of not just chord progression but chord *construction*.

[@bhavishyabalani2237]

Or just called it the circle of fourths

[@d3w4yn3]

GLORIOUS!!!

[@gsus300]

building of negative harmony btw great subject for another video

[@markam67]

I love your approach to music theory and how you explain it makes it seem so easy. You always do a great job on these videos!

[@antony5436]

facts

[@richarddurham7111]

^^^^

[@stefanofromtheworld]

True! I just discovered this channel and I must say it is fantastic!

[@Drencromalicious]

I never realised the circle of fifths is a musician's periodic table, untill this video. Thank you!

[@ricomajestic]

That's exactly what it is!

[@kodowdus]

My take would be that it represents only a portion of such a table (like the "noble gases" of the periodic table) to the extent that only the seven "church modes" are represented.

[@joannpelas5101]

That's an excellent way to look it. I'm a baker learning piano at 54. Perhaps viewing music theory as a recipe to reach my goals would prove helpful.

[@kev1257ful]

@@joannpelas5101learning theory would be akin to learning to read to improve your speech. you don’t have to know how to read to know how to speak, but learning to read broadens your vocabulary and allows you to use language in new and exciting ways. similarly, you don’t need to know theory to know how to play piano or even make your own original music, but it gives you a sense of direction. just remember to not feel like you have to follow all the conventions to music theory, if it sounds good to you it is good :)

[@johnmc3862]

@@ricomajesticIt’s useful but not that important.

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

I laughed my whole life and said I was born with two left ears. In Choir class, professors told me from 3rd Primary until 2nd Secondary to just move my lips and not make a noise. But I listened to your videos and at my retirement, bought a piano. And now am trying to make up for lost time. Merci beaucoup.

[@mikenco]

How's it going?

[@JeremySpidle]

Related Keys are where I learned about the Circle of Fifths. As an EDM DJ, Mixing in Key can give you a smoother more consonant transition between tracks.

[@StartEnjoyingPianoPractice]

The circle of fifths is always feared at the beginning.... I really like the way you described it. It's really easy to follow! It's also nice to see the relation between chords and the circle. It's a really fast way to build the circle in your head if you don't remember it. So, each chord has the fifth. If you know notes of C Major - C E G, then since G is the fifth you know the the next letter on the circle is G. Than G major - G B D, D is the fifth so D is the next letter. etc. If you don't know the notes of each chord, you can also try to visualise your hand on the piano (the way you play the chord) and try to find notes that way.

[@smoorej]

Absolutely brilliant presentation of the circle of fifths. This is why I subscribe and support this channel. The topics are presented in the most clear and concise way possible. You are a natural teacher, and if you teach beyond KZbin your students should consider themselves very lucky.

[@michaelross8794]

O...M...G...THIS IS SOOOO COOL!!! Seriously, I've never really had music theory so I never realized this kind of thing even existed. Thank you for sharing!

[@jojox1904]

David!! Thank you so much for these videos, I absolutely fell in love with music theory this year and your channel has been an incredibly helpful source of information and it made me understand so much more about music than I ever thought I could :) I appreciate your effort you put into this a lot

[@yokeshhsekoy]

This condensed so much material I've been trying to absorb about the circle in just one neat cohesive video. Your gift for teaching is something that keeps on giving!

[@evantouger2469]

This might be your best video yet, and that's saying a lot. Well done! This approach to harmony is SO useful.

[@pathnativejam]

You sir, have given me the sight of music. For that, I am forever grateful.It's almost too much to wrap my music fan brain around and all you hear are the laws and fundamentals of this 15$ diagram like a codex to all your favorite songs!Thank you .

[@JamesDean-O]

I’m a stuck-in-a-rut guitar player and I just subscribed to you because it’s like you just handed me batteries that I haven’t had in my flashlight for many years. Now I’m hoping I can find one of your videos that will show me how to turn it on once again.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks for subscribing 😃 hopefully my videos can give you a little inspiration 😊

[@robbes7rh]

Nice how you provided the well rendered and comprehensive circle diagrams that made the symmetries perfectly clear in ways I hadn’t thought about before. Good work.

[@willrees3452]

This has been an amazing video that has explained things to me many others couldn’t in a way that not only means I understand but also can now apply to my music !!! Thanks so much for this!! Keep this coming 🎉🎉

[@treforparry4054]

David, that was an absolutely brilliant video. I had a general understanding but now you have given me so much more to think about. Many thanks.

[@brandon2486]

FINALLY!! you cleared up all my questions and confusion on this and I just wanna say thank you!!!

[@alexwozniak4405]

Literally the only place I've seen that made this make so much obvious sense. Thank you for breaking it down to understand so simply. 😀

[@xblinketx]

There is one more very useful application of a circle of fifths. It tells you which chords in a certain key are major chords (these on 11 o'clock, 12 o'clock and 1 o'clock), minor chords (these on 2 o'clock, 3 o'clock and 4 o'clock) and a half-diminished chord (the one on 5 o'clock).

[@TheGerkuman]

For major key.

[@xblinketx]

@@TheGerkuman Sure, but if one wants to know the chord qualities for any minor key then there is also a relative major in he outer circle to use for this purpose.

[@ichmemyself6098]

Wow, after watching the video I have a feeling that everything will make sense to me from now on! Thank you David. You gave me that missing link I've been looking for decades ...

[@bingfutch]

I'm at 8:28 and you've just blown my mind with the tri-tone relationships in the circle. That put so much into proper perspective in terms of intervals and how to spot their patterns. Thank you!

[@agonist85]

Your channel has brought new exciting thoughts, examples, and facts to my 20+ year music knowledge growth. I have a 3 year old now, but as she gets older, we will be going back to binge watch all your videos when I start teaching her about music and theory 😁😁

[@xwinglover]

I just had another eureka moment from a David Bennett video of which I have had many. The link between the COFs and modes just hit like a ton of bricks. Another great video David!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@johnhumberstone9674]

Great vid David. You are a real star of the internet with these. Thank you.

[@CurrentlyYouTubing]

One of, if not the best KZbin video on the Circle of Fifths. Thank you so much for explaining its key uses so clearly and concisely!

[@TheFakeyCakeMaker]

I love these videos, stuff I notice in music but can't explain. It's so satisfying finally being able to understand why music makes me feel what it does and how to make music that I hear in my head.

[@daveakabluewater]

The pace and content of this presentation is perfect...allows mental absorbtion and eflextion while maintaining intrest.

[@twentyrothmans7308]

I have cloth ears and no idea about music. Yet you teach, and have taught, me so much. You have a rare talent.

[@mulleralban4703]

Thank you for this video. I didn't understood very well modal brightness until now but you explain it in a very simple and useful way!

[@nexorenity]

Watched over 10 "Circle of Fifths" videos, none of them were as easy as this one to understand. Much appreciated David! 🙏

[@dragasan]

Thank you so much. You always present theory in such a satisfying way.

[@ARNABOSS]

finally i am beginning to understand some of this, thanks for visualizing it so clearly!

[@robster7316]

Can’t thank you enough for this incredibly helpful lesson, David. Best explanation of the circle of fifths and it’s use that I’ve ever encountered. Bravo!👏

[@ericwinkelman2809]

Brilliantly presented and informative as always. Thank you so much for your content.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you!

[@THXBeats]

This might be the most practical, flexible way that I’ve ever seen anyone break down the circle of fifths. Thank you 🙏🏽

[@caputcultusd7558]

Not only i understood what the circle of fifths is, i also learned what music modes are, thank you dude :D

[@zedmanZ9]

Your way of linking modes to the circle of 5ths is very useful. I've not heard it explained like that before. many thanks !

[@Computernerd297]

One of the most comprehensive and well epxlained videos on this topic!

[@emiliya7]

As a non-musician, each video feels like some hidden super complex musical knowledge box that i have somehow found access to. Fascinating! But it's just the basics,of course :)

[@RanLevi]

Couldn't agree more!

[@GizzyDillespee]

It helps understanding to try things out with a polyphonic instrument, too. You don't have to be any good at it, or to have a "pro" instrument.

[@emiliya7]

@ghost mall well,i like to listen and learn about it for fun,but not necessarily for doing it. At least not now, i'm a uni student in International Relations and have enough of other stuff to care about. I do art as a hobby and other craft related stuff. Maybe in the future,not in the mood.

[@punchrocker101]

Wow, this is the first I understand this concept. I was always a bit confused before, but you explained it so well!

[@thomasor7920]

I just had an Eureka moment thanks to you. Brilliant video!

[@ozboomer_au]

Another great video... I never realized about how it can be used to traverse 'modal brightness'. Thanks for opening-up another use for this classic and ever enlightening tool.

[@stefanbandas2157]

Really fantastic graphical demonstration of the Circle and how it can be used. Brilliant.

[@ordjk4797]

Glad you touched on the key signature ! Very helpful thanks david

[@musachi5999]

I will never forget how much my understanding of music theory was blown wide open with the understanding on the circle of fifths. Easily the most powerful tool a beginner could ever hope for.

[@Aleksinhousut]

this is so cool and you’re explaining it so beautifully! 🎉

[@mavericktron2966]

Thank you for your videos they are great! And thank you for showing that for figuring out the (Major) Key signature for modes you do not necessarily need to start at C. It works for every starting point in the circle of fifths.

[@bosco_bosco753]

This was BRILLIANT. Thank you.

[@user-qj4vg9gq5m]

Your videos are pure gold. Wow.

[@Geotubest]

Thanks David. Another brilliant video.

[@cobar5342]

Thanks David. You are a gem And that you reference The Beatles is a nice extra

[@robertkadar6856]

I like the commentary on modes and how they too can be described by the circle of 5ths. That’s very cool!

[@JasonKnowsPodcast]

My god man! My eyes are open!!! Why didn’t anyone tell me my guitar is a freaking abacus for counting the sharps and flats in a key? It makes so much sense the way describe it! Thank you!

[@11kwright]

This is a eureka video which has enhanced my understanding of The Circle of 5ths to no end. Thank you.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😃😃😃

[@katkong281]

That last trick is very enlightening! Keep it up I love your videos

[@dedrxbbit7549]

For anyone who might care about it as much as I do, I don’t think The Beetles were thinking Gmaj to Cmaj when they wrote I Wanna Hold Your Hand, but more likely Gmaj to Gmixo. When I hear the Gmaj chord in the switch, it still _feels_ like G is the Tonic, which is why I have this assumption, but I understand where you’re coming from.

[@Jesspyre]

Being an artist by trade, the comparisons provided in this video draw direct relation to 2D design elements. I.E. the value scale, color theory, and creating degrees of contrast. This has been incredibly helpful in how I am thinking about music composition. I haven't grasped the wheel of 5th quite as productively as I have here today. Thank you!

[@GearAGoGo]

I just found this video, and watching it was like a hundred puzzle pieces floating in my head suddenly fell into place! Well done!

[@darmenias]

This is the video I've been looking for. Ever since I found the circle of fifths as a concept and began talking about it with my bandmates I've been feeling kind of hollow. Everyone talks of this circle as the 'one ultimate tool for musicians' and then the video devolves into 'music theory for preschoolers'-level of explaining stuff you really, really don't need the circle of fifths for. This video, however, finally showed me why the circle is useful.

[@evled8519]

David, thank you very much for this video 😎

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@LeoBercoff]

The 4th (Modal Brightness) interpretations was new to me. Quite interesting! Thanks for sharing!

[@user-cd8ze7eo6e]

Great job ! Explaining with examples and a lot of them and good ones is super effective, thanks :)

[@hubertwiecek]

HANDS DOWN this is THE BEST CO5 video I've ever seen, thank you!

[@anzatzi]

Love the musical examples!

[@mackermaldrill2656]

Well done David. Thanks for giving me a different perspective on the circle of fifths.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😃😃😃

[@DrZCafe]

Thank you so much David for your excellent lecture.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks!

[@nikkothegoblin]

Back in highschool band I really undervalued the usefulness of the circle of fifths, something I've definitely appreciated since delving into music theory

[@cookicha]

This is so great. Loved the 4th point, I actually learned just a lot there

[@valentintabary1990]

Thank you so much for your clear explanation about circle of fifth and music theory in general. Your videos are always full of exampled which makes it so much easier to understand. Theory makes more sens when applied like you explain, thaank you 😊

[@teagueolewiler4202]

so glad we have you david!

[@doctorarmani2112]

Another excellent visual way to explain music theory. Thks... look forward to more videos.

[@JoeSim8s]

Best video EVER on circle of fifths (and I've watched MANY :)

[@olecram2059]

Amazing Video.. Thanks David

[@bettyswunghole3310]

It can also help work out chord progressions in any key. For example, the I V vi IV...pick a chord as "I"...the "V" is one clockwise, the "IV" is one anti-clockwise and the "vi" is three clockwise. (On reflection, I guess this is the same thing as saying you can use the circle of fifths for working out modulations!)

[@juppster5694]

Great work! Thank you so much 🙏

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks!

[@scromp]

This is fantastic and concise. Thanks. I wish I'd had this 30 years ago.

[@wudangmtn]

This is the first time that I have seen how modes relate to the circle of fifths. Good information, thanks.

[@fabianreyes237]

Thanks David!!!

[@feracedomusica]

Really great video! Thanks a lot!

[@jordimoraguesmassanet1179]

Great video.Thank you!

[@frauldabissen]

Yes! I finally understand the modes. Thank you!

[@kodowdus]

At least the seven "church modes"...

[@charliejoseph6465]

If you're looking for any video ideas (and it seems you're in no short supply) I'd love one on songs that use dissonance and why they're still pleasant to listen to.

[@tornwax]

You are the BEST music teacher, David !

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks!!

[@elenagarcia8422]

Great video as always. That's a lot of work behind it!!! Every time I see something about the cicle of fifths, I learn something new!! I love the mathematichs it seems to be in the music :-)

[@howardleekilby7390]

At 80, I am intrigued with the discovery of TCOF. Thank you. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@liquidsolids9415]

Great stuff, as usual! Another way to look at the circle of fifths and modes can tell you all the modes with the same key signature, in order of brightest to darkest. Using C Ionian as our example again, move one step counter-clockwise to F which corresponds to going brighter (F Lydian). Then move clockwise from C and you get all the other modes in order of darkness: G Mixolydian, D Dorian, A Aeolian, E Phrygian, and B Locrian. And, like everything in the circle of fifths, this same pattern works no matter which key you start on. Thanks, David!

[@kodowdus]

Of course, if you're Miles Davis, you might actually prefer to start your circle on "middle F" with no sharps or flats...

[@NomeDeArte]

Thanks to you I knew Tonegym, what a fun tool.

[@sharangshail]

Beautiful explanation. A big thanks for the work you do.

[@jspic4907]

Awesome! Thank you

[@pathnativejam]

I have struggled with learning music and music theory, and this 1 single video was like the light turning on and I can see now. I am getting emotional because I wish someone taught me this when I was a teenager. every music theory/ instrument tutorial should start with this exact video!

[@tomghzel]

It's nice, sorry I'm raining down on your parade. But I think you haven't really tried before. Just a look through the library, any online music theory / instrument forum 20 years ago, a little bit of Google use, all would have gotten you there 🙈.

[@tinkletink1403]

thanks david!

[@feminofila]

Man, I love your explanations!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you!

[@DaniBlack80]

Great video David. Thank you👍

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you 😊

[@axlhyvonen461]

Oh,this was simply outstanding,amazingly helpful video,just awesome! Thank You very much for it,I just love music,listening to it,including music theory, which I also love very much and thanks to You I have learned so much more about it over the past few months,about a year now ☺️☺️😊😊🎹🎹What a pity, that any instrument I don't play,at least not yet and that ToneGym is also great,been using it every morning at least for half a year now ☺️☺️🤗🥳💪💪

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks!!

[@ginnungagap69]

Thank you!

[@michaelmeyer2725]

Where the heck was this video 35 years ago when I was a struggling F Horn player in High School? I'd have totally gotten it and been that much better a player.

[@tomghzel]

The video wasn't there but I bet you had a library!

[@danr.4023]

Very clear explanation as always.

[@mikemccartneyable]

Very interesting analysis and great presentation as always 👍

[@thomasnaylor2162]

Many many thanks!

[@RMCES4LIVE]

Thank you for making music theory fun and easy to learn! This was great review for using the circle of 5th's and I never even thought to use it to see how modal brightness works! That's a really cool new concept to me and I'm going to have a blast implementing it into my studies! Cheers from the States! 🙌🤝