The Circle of Fifths: visual tools for musicians

by Philip Jackson

“The Circle of Fifths” is intended to help the beginner and early improviser. Think of the occasions when you tried to recall some aspect of musical theory and to apply it to the task in hand without interrupting the flow. How much easier you will find it when using these proven techniques. The amazingly versatile circle of fifths is presented in this book in ways which will help you discover and recall that chord progression you need or that elusive diminished seventh chord. Practising musicians - players, improvising soloists, composers, and arrangers - will find real benefit from using their visual memory. More than sixty new and original drawings are used to provide insights that will make it easier for you to understand and certain to achieve the results you seek. You will no longer be a stranger to the different intervals.
“The Circle of Fifths” will help you to guarantee good results in choosing substitute dominants, visualizing whole tone scales and seeing the relationship between quartal harmony and the pentatonic modes and to visualize and select the best inside pentatonic appropriate to your scale or mode. First Kindle edition.

Genres: Music

150 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 6, 2015

Reviews

[Chris Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

solid and academic discussion of the circle of fifths

I read this on Kindle and ordered the paper workbooks. I knew a little bit about the circle and how to write one but Philip Jackson goes into a pot of detail about how it works and why.

[Pat Taber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great explanation of a very complex topic. I found it useful to have a keyboard nearby so my hands could practice while I read the theory.