One Mammoth Lesson: Major Scales in All 12 Keys, Circle of Fifths and Chord Inversions
You can practise chord inversions in all 12 keys by moving triads around the Circle of Fifths: go counterclockwise in authentic (V–I) cadences with your right hand climbing up the keyboard, then clockwise in plagal (IV–I) cadences with the chords descending, always keeping common notes and moving the others by the smallest step.
Key points
- Counterclockwise around the Circle of Fifths is V–I (authentic); clockwise is IV–I (plagal).
- Hold common notes and move the others to the nearest chord tone instead of jumping to root position.
- Authentic chains climb the keyboard; plagal chains descend; start each from all three triad positions.
- A major scale splits into two tetrachords, e.g. A B C# D and E F# G# A in A major.
- Build melodies root to root, third to third or fifth to fifth over each chord change.
This all-in-one piano workout from Jason Zac at Nathaniel School of Music combines the Circle of Fifths, authentic and plagal cadences, chord inversions, voice leading and melody writing. It suits intermediate players who know their major triads and want to move between them smoothly in every key without looking at their hands.
The Circle of Fifths as a Map
Think of the circle simply as a ring of notes. Clockwise: C, G, D, A, E, B, F# (Gb), Db, Ab, Eb, Bb, F and back to C. Counterclockwise: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb (F#), B, E, A, D, G and back to C.
- Clockwise gives plagal movement, IV to I. C is the IV of G, so C to G is a plagal move.
- Counterclockwise gives authentic (perfect) movement, V to I. A is the V of D, so A to D is an authentic move.
Know Your Three Triad Positions
Every triad has three positions. For A major: root position A C# E, first inversion C# E A, second inversion E A C#. For C major: C E G, E G C, G C E.
Exercise 1: Authentic Cadence Climb (Right Hand)
Play the chord root in the left hand and the triad in the right hand.
- Start on A major in root position: A C# E.
- Move to D major using the nearest shape, not a jump. Keep A, and climb the other notes: A D F#. Jumping to root-position D F# A is poor voice leading, sounds awkward and forces you to look at the keys.
- From D to G, keep the common note D, let F# rise to G and A rise to B: B D G.
- Continue counterclockwise: A, D, G, C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, F#, B, E and back to A.
Your right hand climbs slowly up the keyboard and finishes on the same A major position you began with, one octave higher. Repeat starting from the first inversion and then the second inversion of A.
Exercise 2: Plagal Cadence Descent
Now reverse direction and go clockwise: A, E, B, F#, Db, Ab, Eb, Bb, F, C, G, D, A. Instead of climbing up to E, let the chord fall into it, keeping the common note, just like the church Amen cadence. This time your hands travel down the keyboard. Again, try it from all three starting positions.
To push further, play every chord in both journeys as a minor triad.
Exercise 3: Tetrachord Melodies
A major scale splits into two four-note groups called tetrachords. In A major (A B C# D E F# G# A), the lower tetrachord is A B C# D and the upper is E F# G# A.
Over each chord change, build a melody that climbs from a note of the first chord to the matching note of the next:
- Root to root: A to D gives A B C# D.
- Third to third: C# (third of A) to F# (third of D) gives C# D E F#.
- Fifth to fifth: E to A. Here you choose between G# (thinking in A major) and G natural (thinking in D major, which has only two sharps). Both are valid colours.
Now move the chord journey into the left hand and play the climbing tetrachord melody in the right hand, continuing around the circle: A, D, G, C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, F#, B, E, A. The pattern sits naturally as a 3/4 waltz, though 4/4 works too.
How to Practise
Go slowly and treat it as a long-term routine rather than something to master today. Name each chord as you land on it, keep common notes still, and aim to feel the shapes rather than watch them. Returning to it after a break may feel new again, and that is normal.
Questions about this lesson
Which direction around the Circle of Fifths gives an authentic cadence?
Counterclockwise. Each note is the V of the next one, so A to D or D to G is a five-to-one authentic (perfect) cadence.
Why not just play every chord in root position?
Jumping between root-position chords is poor voice leading, sounds clumsy and makes you look at your hands. Keeping common notes and moving others by small steps flows smoothly, much like guitarists shifting chord shapes.
What is a tetrachord?
A tetrachord is a group of four notes. A major scale divides into a lower and upper tetrachord, such as A B C# D and E F# G# A in A major.
Can I do this exercise with minor chords?
Yes. Playing every chord in both the authentic and plagal journeys as minor triads trains your minor chord knowledge in all keys too.
Practise it
- Circle of FifthsExplore the Circle of Fifths through keys, scales, chords and intervals.
- Cadence LibraryCompare piano cadences across keys and listen to how different chord movements create closure, suspense or a turn in a new direction.
- Piano classes at Nathaniel School of MusicLive online or in Bangalore, with a teacher.
- All free music apps40 practice tools for harmony, rhythm, ear training and more.
Related lessons
- How to Practise Chord Inversions Using the Circle of Fifths (Piano)To practise chord inversions with the circle of fifths, pick a target chord, play its neighbour on the circle (IV for a plagal cadence, V for an authentic cadence), and choose the inversion that keeps the common note in the same position so the chords connect smoothly.
- Make Chord Practice Fun With the Circle of Fifths (Part 1)To practise major chords around the Circle of Fifths, play all 12 triads moving clockwise (the plagal direction) and anticlockwise (the authentic direction), keeping the common note and sliding the other two notes, then turn it into a rhythm workout by shrinking the arpeggio cycle from 8 beats down to 3 while the metronome stays at the same tempo.
- How to Change Piano Chords Smoothly (5 Fixes for Fumbling Hands)To change piano chords smoothly, visualise the next chord while still playing the current one, keep common notes using inversions, practise the changes two chords at a time, understand each chord's function, and always shift on time even if you make a mistake.
- 12 Bar Blues Piano for Beginners (Sing and Play Along)The 12 bar blues uses only the I, IV and V major chords (C, F and G in the key of C), arranged in three four-bar lines: I-I-I-I, IV-IV-I-I and V-IV-I-I, with optional IV in bar 2 and a V turnaround in the final bar.