The Circle of Fifths Progression

In C major

Em7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7 — inevitable, mechanical in the best sense, around 132 BPM.

1. Bar 1 iiim7 Em7
   E · G · B · D
   ▶ Hear it
2. Bar 2 vim7 Am7
   A · C · E · G
   ▶ Hear it
3. Bar 3 iim7 Dm7
   D · F · A · C
   ▶ Hear it
4. Bar 4 V7 G7
   G · B · D · F
   ▶ Hear it
5. Bar 5 Imaj7 Cmaj7
   C · E · G · B
   ▶ Hear it

Why it works

Root movement down a fifth is the strongest progression the tonal system has, because the new root is already present in the old chord as its fifth. Chaining them means every chord is prepared by the one before it. Within a key the cycle is not perfectly regular — one step is a diminished fifth rather than a perfect one — which is precisely what keeps the sequence inside the key instead of modulating away.

Where you'll hear it

Sequences, bridges and any passage that needs to cover ground without sounding arbitrary. It is also the fastest way to practise a voicing in all twelve keys.

iiim7–vim7–iim7–V7–Imaj7 in every key

The same progression transposed. The roman numerals never change — that is the whole point of writing progressions this way.

Related progressions

• iim7–V7–Imaj7 The ii–V–I Progression
• I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V The Canon Progression