Mastering the Diatonic Circle of 5ths

What do Autumn Leaves, All the Things You Are, and Johann Sebastian Bach all have in common? They all use the diatonic circle of 5ths!
This progression has been used for centuries, and in this week's podcast lesson we will discuss how to use it seamlessly to improvise chords and melodies.
Go to for practice materials
jazzpianoschool.com/podcast165
If you have questions or suggestions for a podcast lesson you would like us to do, please leave them in the comments down below.
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[@danielkainyah824]

Got got impacted by an advanced musical idea. Thanks for this tutorial

[@jazzpianoschool]

Glad it was helpful, Daniel!

[@blindsfitvince2443]

Be fantastic for you to cover just a small bit of Autumn Leaves improvisation, just a chord at a time and go over, then to the next chord. Your video would move to the next level of helpfulness. Thanks for posting your material 👍

[@jazzpianoschool]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@PlayitonPan]

Well done Sterling 🔥🙌🏾😎 Interesting, helpful and useful podcast. It progressed very quickly from Absolute Beginner (this is a C Major triad, this is the Circle) to Jazz Intermediate (Improvise over basic standards with altered turnarounds). This is the type of video that would require regular rewinds, repeats and reviews (hence some people asking to slow down). It could also have been broken down into multiple podcasts (especially aimed at different levels). For example Part 1 getting used to the diatonic circle (various voicings, various keys). Part 2 using the diatonic circle in jazz standards with harmonic alterations (turnarounds/modulations). Overall a great video. Giving thanks and looking forward to more. Greatness 🎼🎹🎶💫

[@jazzpianoschool]

Thanks for the feedback, @UrbanSmashSoulJah!

[@justask7676]

Why at 3:04 is there a G# in the key of C, while showing us diatonic harmonization?

[@PlayitonPan]

E Major (E G# B) is a jazzy substitution for e minor (e g b). Leading tones play a big part of this substitution in two ways. 1) the G# is a half step below the next chord which is A. This makes G# a leading tone, very much like how B wants to resolve and lead into C. 2) the E Major also functions as a chromatic creep from C Major in the following way… C E G contains E as the third. If we go half-steps in either direction, on the C and G (leaving E the same) we get B E G# (the C has moved down a half-step to B. G has moved a half-step up to G#). Notice B E G# is an inversion of E G# B. By using a wide voicing the chord, this has a certain harmonic effect which can sound both pleasing and intriguing. It would seem that our Jazz Piano School tutor did this out of style rather than for instruction. Nevertheless, a good lesson discovered here. 🔥🙌🏾😎💫

[@ricksewick]

Question: You are showing the diatonic motion of fourths in the key of C, yet at 3:05 in the video, you are playing a G# as part of the E major chord. Not diatonic. So what are you demonstrating there? Thanks

[@PlayitonPan]

E Major (E G# B) is a jazzy substitution for e minor (e g b). Leading tones play a big part of this substitution in two ways. 1) the G# is a half step below the next chord which is A. This makes G# a leading tone, very much like how B wants to resolve and lead into C. 2) the E Major also functions as a chromatic creep up from C Major in the following way… C E G contains E as the third. If we go half-steps in either direction, on the C and G (leaving E the same) we get B E G# (the C has moved down a half-step to B. G has moved a half-step up to G#). This has a certain harmonic effect which can sound both pleasing and intriguing. It would seem that our Jazz Piano School tutor did this out of style rather than for instruction. Nevertheless, a good lesson discovered here. 🔥🙌🏾😎💫

[@ricksewick]

@@PlayitonPan Thank you!

[@jazzpianoschool]

@Rick: thanks for the question. You are right in that the G# is not part of the diatonic key of C (**unless we are in the key of A minor, and specifically A harmonic minor**). So the E major is a 5-1 resolution to A minor (which is in theory terms known as the “secondary dominant” if in the key of C major, or known as a “functioning dominant” in the key of A minor). For more about those check out our theory blogs on the JPS website!

[@jazzpianoschool]

@UrbanSmashSoulJah: thanks again for the reply here!

[@PlayitonPan]

JazzPianoSchool.com - Learning Freedom (Online Jazz Piano Courses) 🔥🙌🏾 Thank you for clearing this up and indicating harmonic minor and secondary dominants ✨✨🛢 Manners and Respect to this channel 🙏🏾💫

[@blindsfitvince2443]

Good video. Would really like you to slow down the improv so I could learn some of the riffs, so I could use some of the lines and build more of my own.

[@jazzpianoschool]

Hi@Blinds Fit Vince: thanks for watching. Fortunately KZbin has a way where you can slow down the videos to your own pacing - if you click the 3 dots, then you will see an icon “playback” speed, click that and then you can adjust to your liking (0.75speed, 0.5speed, even 0.25speed). Enjoy!

[@brucejeric6701]

When you click on site location for practice material, it says site can’t be found. This always happens with your podcast material!!!!

[@jazzpianoschool]

Sorry for the inconvenience, the practice materials should be working now.

[@hacerclic1020]

I am confused. You said a diatonic circle of fifths used all the notes in one scale, in this case C major (2:16). But then you throw in a G# (3:04), which is not in the C major scale. Please explain.

[@meatyout]

​@​@UCNFSuFDiCfVl0OoFZ1yOZvA See @@UCLMd2xFntqXa83KOSbBN3EA reply below... "E Major (E G# B) is a jazzy substitution for e minor (e g b)." + further intersting explanations. You could also have a look at kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqTUXmZtgNaAjas which will show you that it's not really "jazzy".

[@jazzpianoschool]

Hi: see my reply below. "You are right in that the G# is not part of the diatonic key of C (**unless we are in the key of A minor, and specifically A harmonic minor**). So the E major is a 5-1 resolution to A minor (which is in theory terms known as the “secondary dominant” if in the key of C major, or known as a “functioning dominant” in the key of A minor). For more about those check out our theory blogs on the JPS website!"

[@valeriekuhn3746]

Wish the sound of his voice was louder. I can hardly hear him.

[@dondascher1527]

I thought this was considered the circle of 4ths. The movement is 4ths.

[@PlayitonPan]

A fifth (F to C) is a flipped/inverted fourth (C to F). So forwards or backwards a fourth and a fifth is simply how you look at it… the Cycle of Fourths is a reflection of the Circle of Fifths.

[@jazzpianoschool]

Great question @Don, and thanks for the reply @UrbanSmashSoulJah. The reply hit the nail on the head - circle/cycle of 4ths and circle/cycle of 5ths are the same thing because a fifth is a flipped fourth and visa versa.

[@Gerard_2024]

The SOUND is very low.

[@brucejeric6701]

Slow down!!!!!!!

[@gmphotos]

You need to match you volume throughout the video. It is time to be more professional!