Ethan Teaches You Music Podcast Chords Around the Circle of Fifths - Part One
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May 23, 2025 Dive into the fascinating world of chord progressions with a focus on the circle of fifths. Discover how this concept shapes both popular and classical music. Tune into musical demonstrations featuring iconic tracks and timeless classics, showcasing the magic of major and minor sequences. Plus, enjoy some eye-opening insights into the often-misunderstood nature of the circle itself. It's a fun exploration of creativity and structure in music!
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Map, Not A Musical Recipe
- Ethan Hein says the circle of fifths organizes pitch classes but isn't primarily a composition tool.
- Use it as a map, not a recipe for making music.
The 'Lie' Behind The Circle
- Ethan Hein calls the circle of fifths a lie: it's actually an infinite spiral that never closes.
- We conflate enharmonic pitches like F# and Gb to keep key count manageable.
Move Diatonically, Not Literally
- Pick a major or minor key and move chord roots by diatonic fourths instead of literally circling every fifth around the keyboard.
- Build triads on those diatonic roots to keep the progression sounding coherent.