Tips for Changing Keys Using the Circle of 5ths

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Timestamps:
0:00 - Lesson Intro
1:59 - Example #1: Major Key to Relative Minor
4:19 - Example #2: Major Key to Parallel Minor
10:06 - Example #3: Minor Key to Minor Key (minor 3rd up)
14:47 - Example #4: Major Key to Major Key (minor 3rd down)
17:33 - Example #5: Using an E major chord to help transition to A major
18:43 - Example #6: Using a G major chord to help transition back to C major
19:54 - Example #7: Changing to any Random Key
24:53 - Example #8: Using 2 - 5 - 1's to help with Transitions
29:30 - Example #9: Using a Tritone Substitution to help transition to E major
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[@zombieguitar]

If you liked this vid, definitely check out my website...www.zombieguitar.com 🤘

[@JaysonT1]

Chris Sherland told me he checked out your channel and liked it.

[@mikecostigan9913]

The best teacher on line. A no horseshit, blue collar working man type of teacher. I bought the lifetime lesson deal from you. Well worth it. I recommend it to anyone as it is a great price with TONs of great stuff.

[@crescendo5594]

I love this so much, man. So many people teaching music theory are all over the place with their examples, but this is perfectly coordinated. It has the same starting point every time, and uses the same groove to teach several different concepts. Most people would have had one example beginning on C, then the next example would begin on F#, then the next example would begin on E, etc. That’s such a confusing way to teach, because there’s no baseline for understanding the concepts. That’s like teaching a kid 2+2 with how many apples a man has, and then teaching 2+3 with how many cars a woman has. The basic concepts are subverted by having to process other information uselessly. Anyway, I’m so grateful that someone finally teaches these concepts in a way that’s conducive to learning.

[@bobravenscraft5376]

Yes I have about 5 I watch Brian makes me feel like I'm actually sitting at a lesson. HE WILL TEACH U THINGS U DIDNT KNOW U NEED TO KNOW LMMFAO. COOL DUDE

[@bobravenscraft5376]

When I encourage one to play and not quit I say most people don't go deep enough. At that point. It becomes a vortex. U R DOWN THE RABBITHOLE. where u wanna B

[@ganeshparajuli7518]

I am fan of his circle of fifth tattoos..

[@SpacemanL2]

30 years on Guitar, with ten years of piano lessons prior to that and all my music theory classes, and no one has ever made me understand the circle of fifths the way you just did. I am a fan and a convert! Thank you!

[@zombieguitar]

Thanks Sean! 😁

[@richard135b7]

I'm a piano player and I keep it real simple. Going from one key to another I simply play the dominant 7th chord of the key I'm going to. That's it! That makes for a smooth and beautiful transition. Of course that was one of the options you mentioned. Glad you're sharing good and useable theory.

[@zombieguitar]

Thanks for checking out the vid! 😀

[@ek2thehands]

Brian, first of all I think that you are a very good teacher/instructor. I'm only into 10:11 minutes of the video and have learned so much. I keep stopping the video and making up chord progressions and rhythms within the concepts that you are teaching. I take lessons but this will definitely improve my progress. I was just thinking about key changes the other day and your video was right on time. Some people can teach and get the point across so we'll. You are one of them. Thanks.

[@philjames1019]

Absolute 24 carat gold material .... brilliant information as always Brian.

[@paulhammond50]

Man, this fella is so articulate and you can learn so much through him. Good on ya Brian 👊

[@chadmiller8725]

Just came across your channel Brian. I am a 40+ year guitarist purely by ear all these years, but with a bit of scale and basic theory knowledge learned along the way and of course solid memory of the entire fretboard. I finally decided during all the insanity in the world lately to dig deep into theory. I watched this video and became a subscriber. You have a very good teaching delivery that is much appreciated. I will be backtracking through your channel and absorbing as much as I can take in. Thank you!!

[@zombieguitar]

Glad to hear it Chad! Thanks for checking out my vids 😁

[@samratbose443]

After my exams I'm going to learn all of this. Next week. Great video Brian. Your lessons are so detailed and well structured.

[@DawlessHouseMusic]

Holy crap. First time in 6 years I understand this. Thank you. I have a new super power

[@jimmyjames9752]

Best guitar instructional videos on KZbin , thank you Brian !!!

[@disciple678]

I can't afford learning music from big name music institutes. Hence I'm here. One thing I must say that I would remain grateful to you forever for all the things you taught me through such videos. Regards to you.

[@liftedlorax753]

This is a great video on practical uses of circle of fifths for composing chord progressions. Well done.

[@John-boy]

Finally tritone substitution explained in a way I can understand, and how to use it. Simple - thanks!

[@johnphillips752]

My wife is a worship leader/pianist. I was able to use the knowledge from this video to wow her in key transitioning. Thanks, Brian, for (again) making me look like I know what I'm doing.

[@Bishalmusic_]

Thank you, helped me more than my regular guitar classes

[@ragingoracle6239]

Once again more tools for the tool box.. Piano players on KZbin don't want to reference the circle of 5ths when they explain chord progressions or evaluate already established chord progressions. This leaves a lot of questions. You clarified the "why" in regards to a ton of decisions made made by artist and filled the gaps that piano players are leaving out. I can see where and why artist artist are using tri-tone subs now..some progression evaluations didn't make since before - now they do!! Thank you!!

[@mountfoolish]

Outstanding lesson! I feel like there was enough great info in here for at least 2 different videos, if you so chose. Plus, this is the best explanation of 2-5-1 I have yet to see. One of your best, man!

[@Archangel_Michaels]

I'm also a music teacher and I learn so much on teaching techniques from you My students thank you for helping them get lernt gooder 🤪 #1 Zombie ~ A Michael

[@zombieguitar]

🤣🤣 awesome!!

[@Archangel_Michaels]

@@zombieguitar Thank you for taking a personal approach and replying to your comments. You are a serious inspiration Brian, thank you for all your hard work ! #1 Zombie A Michael

[@brianowens889]

Damn, I’ve been looking at the circle of fifths since I was 12 probably, never fully understanding it but a little more each time I check it out. Watching it now; I’m like 85% there and kind of freaking out, cuz key changes to me are the last door to openly walking anywhere on the fretboard.. fuck yeah, thanks man.

[@joycegrove5602]

Thanks again, Brian, for an excellent lesson! You are such a great teacher!! In the space of half an hour you have taught me (a relative beginner) so much and made the concept of key changes less scary and more straight forward. So today I discovered two brand-new things: tritone substitutions and what 5-2-1s (or is is a V ii I?) are. Happy days!!!

[@sophiafake-virus2456]

Brian always explains clearly.

[@danepaulstewart8464]

Another RIDONKULOUSLY useful lesson and breakdown from the Zombie Sensei. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@TheMartinRNR]

Concepts that took me years to learn, here on your channel you learn it in 30 minutes, I congratulate you for your work and the great help you give to many people who learn with your videos Brian

[@zombieguitar]

Thanks Martin! Glad to hear you are liking the vids 😁

[@jasonmcguinness288]

A really good lesson. It took a bit of focus at first, but was well worth it. I'd never heard of tritone substitutions before and this was really well explained.

[@freaky425]

that's such an amazing lesson. it is such a shame that this video is not getting enough views. This is the first time i have seen someone is explaining this topic in such a delicate way that beginners wouldn't get frightened or confused!

[@zombieguitar]

Glad to hear it! 😀

[@longsnapper5381]

You are the best teacher on KZbin, brother. Thank you.

[@SKOVDEPETE]

I loved this lesson. Adding it to my tool box. I just got a Lava Me 2 guitar(with built in reverb and chorus) a month ago. It genuinely inspires me to move up and down the fretboard learning the different intonations. Will grab it immediately and try/practise/learn key changes from this methodical and pleasant presentation. 🙏😊

[@jeffearle1687]

32:32 love your style Brian! Becoming a big fan!

[@deansykes2647]

Great video!

[@jolu1621]

Thx Brian 👍

[@Gdawg0331]

Yes!!!!! I’ve been feening for a lesson

[@robertquinn9490]

Well done, another awesome lesson! This really clears up parallel keys an tritone subs. Thank you!

[@johnegan4762]

Great video. Thank you.

[@barrycoulter6951]

Awesome info as usual! Thx, brian…!

[@musicmoi]

Thanks for the hard work and dedication Brian! Love your stuff

[@martincomesana6824]

This is outstanding! Thank you!

[@davidbarnhill1828]

Thank You 🙏 Really Needed This!!!!!

[@jamesmcandrews9]

Great lesson well explained

[@joshuaogden1296]

Very unappreciated channel ur lessons are by far the most detailed and easy to understand

[@zombieguitar]

Thanks Joshua! 😀

[@tommyredline6432]

This has been incredibly useful

[@iamajayaj]

PLEASE make a video on key changes or transitions using Major and Minor Sevenths, Sus 2 & 4, Add 9’s, Diminished, Augmented. That would be really great! ✨ Example - C Major Key to C minor Key using 7th (C Major - C7 - F Minor - C Minor) Thank you 🫡

[@zombieguitar]

This video is the video man. You need to understand key signatures first and foremost. All of that 7, 9, sus, etc. stuff is simply add ons to the triads. The triads are the foundation for which the key change occurs. THIS video that you are watching is the video that you want to pay attention to. Adding the extensions is simply icing on the cake. For a video regarding adding extensions to a single key signature, you might like this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5eQkomhgayXfZY

[@newandreview]

Absolutely brilliant instruction

[@MrFender110]

Brian you are the best thank you

[@touristmike4372]

you are a good teacher!

[@MKRYAN777]

Really helpful video. I've never seen this explained so well. Thanks!

[@godfreytan1001]

This is fantastic lesson. Thank you.

[@drumcrazy72]

Great lesson. Very well explained. Thank you, Brian.

[@arepachina1358]

dude, super helpfull!

[@steveg.3022]

Very helpful. I’m gonna have to watch this several times.

[@RedeyeCountry]

Brilliant

[@junioralves2158]

Thank you very much for this class. It's helping me a lot! (Brazil)

[@SyntagmaStation]

This is a big mystery finally solved for me! Circle of fifths is an amazing tool if you know how to use it. Another fantastic lesson. Great teaching

[@patconnelify]

You are an amazing teacher.

[@greenatom]

Excellent and clear. You put a lot of work into these videos to make them go down easy.

[@bernadetteosman3376]

Amazing explanation Brian thank you very much

[@xhead75]

This video helped me a lot. Thank you so much, Brian!

[@aunghein9326]

I love this so much...

[@mwe1337]

Man I love your channel. I have young nephews here in Australia that I'll share with as they are chomping at the bit to learn music. All the best from Melbourne Australia. 😈🤘

[@zombieguitar]

Thanks man!! Much appreciated 😁

[@terrybanks5063]

another great lesson mate, ive been talking about changing keys with a friend recently. this certainly simplified things. love from uk as always, cheers!

[@bradbozemam1075]

Great lesson Brian! Very informative, I learned a lot from this one! Thanks

[@UFO6600]

Brilliant! Even I could understand it. Thank you very much 🤓.

[@rich5354]

Another amazing video Brian. You inspire me to pick up my guitar, so, job done.

[@blue6633]

Thankyou Brian you do a Fantastic job of teaching! Your always easy to understand. Cheers from Australia

[@adamhansen9529]

You are the best on the tube...

[@disciple678]

You are a saviour in true sense.

[@inflintity]

I don’t watch a whole lot of online guitar teachers but have always liked your approach. Great information on this one. 👍🤙🎃

[@zombieguitar]

Thank you! 😁

[@lostpulsar]

killer lesson! You make every concept so easy to understand! You should have thousands of likes

[@teweaver6514]

you are mastercat teaching guitar and music. your simple style is easy to follow and appreciated

[@zombieguitar]

Thanks for the words Joe, much appreciated! 😀

[@neilrobinson7615]

Gold standard lesson as usual. Another use of TCOF with the tri tone substitution, brilliant! I prefer the sound of the tri tone sub to the 2-5-1 transition.

[@vicmorrison8128]

You are such a great coach! Brian Zombiewolf is awesome 🧟‍♀️

[@abhishekdebnath2084]

I thank you from bottom of my heart. Your teachings answered my long years of questions: Why these things are build and how to use these. Thank you so much! ❤️

[@greggriffiths9053]

A lot to take in but I'm loving it.

[@ashokflash]

YOU ARE THE BEST , THANK YOU. GIVE MORE ABOUT MUSIC THEORY

[@dtna]

You have taught me things like this that were never taught to me from private teachers.

[@The-End-Of-The-Line]

Brilliant explanation Brian. It just so happens that I was working on a song that had a key change in it, and this video gave me what I needed in a very clear way. Yet another practical application of the “Circle of Fifths” . Thank you.

[@zombieguitar]

Awesome!! 😁

[@chaminda1250]

It is a best lesson

[@MrPalomos2]

Excelente teaching, how you apply all this in a real situation jam or can you give any popular song using this method

[@cesarsosa6279]

Hola,apenas soy un aprendiz de musica y todo lo que enseñas me parece maravilloso, uno puede aprender sin complicarse tanto la vida,por eso,otra vez muchas gracias por compartir y hacernos a los que aprendemos mirando videos en yt mas faciles algunas cosas,cordial saludo amigo.

[@giles7662]

Why was example 2 not moving from C major to Eb major? The Eb note became the tonal centre. Also, in example three, C and Eb were, again, the tonal centre (to my ears) regradless of the first underlying minor chord in the progression.

[@zombieguitar]

Eb major and C minor are the same key signature!

[@Yamunch]

Oh fuck yeah thank you!!!!

[@yakzivz1104]

this is really great info!! can we use these same methods to transition from major to double harmonic major???

[@zombieguitar]

Yes 😁

[@HRJ1411]

Thanks Brian! So, you can either use the 5 chord to 1, or tri-tone sub chord to 1, or 2-5-1, can you mix and match? Could you go 2, then tri-tone sub of 5 and then to the 1 chord of new key? . . . Sometimes I don't trust my ears!

[@motokev2727]

Interesting the dominate chord

[@randomzachh]

tritones blew my mind

[@peterrao1]

Brian Kelly is the best!

[@wulfrache]

What determines where on the fretboard of a given scale you play while doing a solo? Say for Aminor @ around 10:44 do you have to play the scale at that location or does ANYWHERE on the scale work?

[@zombieguitar]

Yup anywhere on the fretboard works! There are only 12 notes in total on the fretboard, and 7 of those notes are the A minor scale notes. Play any of those 7 notes, anywhere on the fretboard, and you are good to go 😁

[@wulfrache]

@@zombieguitar Ok just the whole "box" that you use to solo confused me. I guess that is just something more for begginers that only have like 1 of the scale patterns memorized. Your lessons are great man. I stopped playing over a decade ago and just started up again like 2 weeks ago... Already feel like I have learned more in these 2 weeks watching urs and other videos then i did in the 10 or so years i played when i was younger... "self tought" of course. I used to just memorize songs, have tried to take a different approach this time as I never seemed to get much better back then just kind of hit a wall and didn't progress as much as i should have.... Of course YT didnt exist back then all I had were like guitar magazines and shit lol... Im learning on my brother's Ukulele that was given to me after he passed away in 2020. This was his KZbin channel ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/rF6rqIGqjLZqn80 ) he was a bit of a working musician out in Hawaii. Its funny I tought him how to play guitar when we were younger (he was 10 yrs older then me) and in a way he inspired me to take it up again.

[@tonniehoward3051]

My goddddd

[@fentonwinmill]

Now how do you go from C to C# and back again, lots of following the circle of fifths

[@obi-wannabekennotbi2418]

How would ii - V - I work with minor keys (for example getting from C minor to E minor)? Would that be iidim - v - i instead?

[@zombieguitar]

Of course the golden rule is to always use your ear... But if the goal is to get to a minor key, you could try to do a ii° - V - i. The V would still remain a dominant chord (or major triad). This is typical for minor keys, and this is where the harmonic minor scale is derived from. It's a bit trickier, but with some experimentation, you could definitely find something that sounds good!

[@obi-wannabekennotbi2418]

Thank you

[@xisotopex]

that 2-5-1 sounded abrupt to me because as soon as you go to the 2 you have changed key and that in itself sound abrupt to me. is there a way to lessen that?

[@zombieguitar]

Well, the less "outside notes" that are used that aren't in the starting key...the less drastic of a change it will be. This is where some nice chord substitutions would come into play 😀

[@jaymccormick9945]

Thank you Brian! I am 57 and getting back into guitar and I have such a hard time understanding the correlation between many things in music. You have presented so much in a language I can grasp which makes my learning so fun again!!!! Thank you my friend. God Bless!

[@Excellentness]

Been wondering how they done that when I here it Chairs bro

[@user-ce5jq9bo6b]

How'd he use G as a transition from A to C if the key of A has G#? Was it borrowed from the parallel A minor scale? 😮

[@zombieguitar]

In order to "label" a chord, all you need to do is to recognize if it is "in key" or "out of key". If the chord in question is "out of key", you can then look to assign a "label" to it (eg. "borrowed chord", etc). However in this case it can simply just be labeled as a "dominant" chord since G is a 5th above C 🎸

[@abdulazizalmaa7179]

🤗

[@neilcunningham7448]

This circle of 5ths is some clever s**t

[@richardanderson4037]

Why would you want to change keys in a song? To go from happy to sad or vice versa???

[@zombieguitar]

Yup happy to sad, sad to happy...just basically to switch things up to make it more interesting 😀

[@proudtexan3835]

How come y’all never say anything about, when you change from any seven not scale to any five note scale, you eliminate both half steps?

[@zombieguitar]

The 5-note scale (pentatonic) is just a portion of the 7-note scale (diatonic). It's not about changing "scales"...it's about changing KEYS 😉