Understanding the Circle of 5ths

In this episode we're going to learn how to fully understand the Circle of 5ths and 4ths. We'll also discuss Plagal Cadences (IV - I), Dominant to Tonic Resolutions (V - I), and the order of both Sharps and Flats when reading a Key Signature.

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[williammatthews]

Im glad im getting to watch this before someone copyright claims the circle of fifths.

[bobblowhard]

I was completely lost after you said "Hi, everyone. I'm Rick Beato."

[curtesamoangelos]

My wife gave it to my son 20 years ago. Now at age 66 you have caused me to desire to learn guitar. Will look for your videos on beginners. Thoroughly enjoy your "What makes this song great" vids.

[michaelaiello]

I love Rick. I have the Beato Book; but I’m possibly going to be in the minority here nevertheless. I just watched 4 videos explaining the cycle of 5ths and Rick’s was the most difficult to follow. Rick is brilliant, but I wish he was a more systematic teacher. I spend a lot of time with his videos; they are worth it and chock full of gems. But his lessons are best if you already understand most of the subject, then you can crack the gems out of each nut.

[littlebittycustoms]

Finally! Someone explained why I’m a mechanic and NOT a musician....

[polyphonicgroove]

Rick, when I first started watching your channel, I was just getting into music theory. I felt like everything was going over my head. Now, 1 year later, I can hold my own thanks to you. I've become a better song writer and music producer because of your teachings....so, thank you for all that you do. FYI...even though publishing companies and some artist give you a hard time....I completely love your "What makes this song great." It is such a great segment and I learn a lot from them.

[nigelnix]

In England I learned this:
Father Christmas Gave Dad An Electric Blanket
Blanket Exploded And Dad Got Charred Feet

[marcusfarmer]

Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle, Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles's Father!

[brayjas]

I remember all this stuff from first-year theory as a music Major. What I realized very early on was that the tests were all built on this stuff, and as things got more advanced the questions were all based on this information, but you couldn't bring that into class when you were taking tests. My solution was to take a single page right out the circle of fifths and you know the dominants and all that stuff, so basically I memorized a cheat sheet, so when test time came I pull out of blank piece of paper and I'd write it all out and then I'd work from that. Now in a sense that might be considered a shortcut to memorization but on the other hand what it did was cement the information into my brain. Whatever you got to do, the thing is you enter all that stuff into your subconscious and then you forget it and just take your solo.

[joshuajordan]

This video is one of the reasons I dropped my music major in college. Too complicated for me. Sing all day. Harmonize, improvise. But music theory is truly rocket science. I congratulate the people who can figure this stuff out.

[josephsosa]

While I try to explain things in class, it always helps to have others explain the same thing I do. I know that I have students that watch your videos. This is going into a playlist of Circle of fifths, and the students will choose two videos to watch. This video seems to have more of a conversational aspect, and the on-screen pictures that pop up will be beneficial for my visual learners.

[gonow]

Every Rick Beato video is like a master class. Even for the basics, it's like a 'master class of the basics.' His knowledge, experience, and communication is truly top notch.

[TheDizzleHawke]

The circle of 5ths is the single most important tool I use to learn songs on the fly. As a dueling piano player in an all-request format, we have to know hundreds of songs.

[fredmarshall]

Love music, have played most of my life. Knew the circle if 5ths from my piano teacher in 82, but have never heard any of this other info. Thank you for taking the time to teach this ole country boy something new! Have a GrEAt DAy!!!

[peterpike]

I learned the Circle of 5ths at the same time the Lion King was released, so everyone in band class went around belting out, "It's the Circle of and it moves us

[petermcmurray]

Fabulous. The best description I have ever seen. When I started Music 6 years ago I found the so called adult books ridiculous. I was 74. Hunted and found the Circle that I called the Rosetta Stone of Music. Then I saw more rubbish than one can imagine - even my clarinet teacher was shocked when I showed her that the ABRSM books were in the order of fIfths. It appears that in 30 years of teaching juniors she had never got past Twinkle Twinkle in theory. She just ignored what she called the chromatic keys on the clarinet. I found The Lydian Chromatic of George Russell and hunted in dictionaries for a definition of Plagal. Now I hear often referred to as the Amen cadence. I got lost with people saying harmony is all maths (it isn't) and for a while thought 2 5 1 was the only answer Until I found the magical Lisa on Pianote who shows that progressions are not carved in stone.
All made as simple as it is with this magnificent exposition.
My thanks also go to the 90 year old lady who described the order of flats as "sew a BEAD on my G string" that I can never forget :-)

[mtclemmons]

Rick, I know nothing about writing/playing music, but am nonetheless in awe of your expertise. Keep it up as you make me appreciate musicians and the art of music more and more.

[guppybill]

Thanks Rick. Very timely piece. Played self-taught acoustic for 54 years. Just started practicing scales and modes on electric. It's so new to me. I'm having a great time. Thanks to you, I'm gonna' be a rock star!

[neurotransmission]

“Fat Cat Go Dead After Eating Burritos” is going to be the name of my first album.

[astrorad]

Thanks Rick. I have the Beato book and this video brings me back to my 1967 college days as a music major. I never completed my degree, but now in retirement I am endeavoring to excavate my lost knowledge of music theory. I have had a few truly excellent teachers in my life and you certainly have the gift!