# Circle of Fifths — Make better music now

> Visual music theory tool for understanding keys, scales, and chord progressions. (iPhone/iPad app by Josh Liebe (Pty) Ltd.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circle-of-fifths/id1558441265 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Josh Liebe (Pty) Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1558441417)
- Category: Music, Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.86/5 from 222 App Store ratings · 161 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 23 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2021-03-24
- Data updated: 2026-07-16
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circle-of-fifths/id1558441265/reviews.md

## What is Circle of Fifths?

The circle of fifths (Sometimes called circle of fourths) is a great tool for understanding the music theory behind the 12 keys of the chromatic scale. It is useful for visualizing the music notation of the different scales, composing chord progressions/modulations and mixing in key.

Features:
- Color-coded relationship between the major, minor and diminished keys
- Key signature and triad for each key
- A sounded chord/arpeggio for each key (With mute/unmute toggle)
- Ability to lock the circle to currently selected key
- A tappable legend indicating the degree of each key in the currently selected group
- Several color schemes
- Modern UI following material design guidelines

I hope you enjoy using this circle of 5ths app as much I as I enjoyed making it! Have fun! - Josh

## Key features

- Color-coded key relationships
- Key signature and triad display
- Sounded chords and arpeggios
- Lockable circle to selected key
- Tappable legend for key degrees
- Multiple color schemes
- Modern UI

## What do users think of Circle of Fifths?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Simple and effective
- 🎨 Great visual representation
- 🔊 Helpful audio feedback
- 💰 Free and no ads

**Cons**

- 🔧 Lacks some advanced features
- 🔀 Difficulty toggling between chord and arpeggio modes
- 🔇 Limited sound options

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Incorrect chord notation for some keys
- Slow launch time on certain devices

**Most requested features**

- Ability to change chord voicings
- Support for other musical modes (Dorian, Mixolydian, etc.)
- Option to display scale degrees/Roman numerals
- Accessibility improvements for visually impaired users

## Recent user reviews (10 of 161)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circle-of-fifths/id1558441265/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Can’t recommend enough

*2026-04-04, version 1.1.8*

This is how educational/utility apps should be. Super easy to use, deep enough settings to get what you need, runs smoothly, and no ads

### 5/5 — Game changer

*2026-03-07, version 1.1.8*

This is such a useful app, so easy to just play around with key modulation ideas and your understanding of the circle of fifths

### 5/5 — The best one out there

*2026-03-06, version 1.1.8*

This works soooo well!

### 5/5 — Woah.

*2026-03-01, version 1.1.8*

I absolutely love this app for tinkering and helping me out with my piano. MUST DOWNLOAD!!!!

### 5/5 — Well Done

*2026-01-24, version 1.1.8*

This is a great app. Easy to use.

It would be even better if you could choose to change all of the Flat Major Chords to Sharps. Currently you can only choose making G flat into F sharp.

And if they could add a testing feature, it would facilitate one’s memorizing of the circle.

### 5/5 — Thank you

*2026-01-15, version 1.1.8*

A simple app that does exactly what it says. Thank you for not asking me to buy buy buy before I even know what up.

### 5/5 — Perfectly Simple

*2026-01-11, version 1.1.8*

This is just what I was looking for. I wanted a simple free app to display the circle of fifths while I was practicing, and this does just that. Excellent job!

### 5/5 — Simply perfect

*2025-12-16, version 1.1.8*

No frills but at the same time perfect amount of features, very easy to bang out tune just finger tapping through the chords

### 5/5 — Great app

*2025-10-11, version 1.1.8*

Great app to play chords

### 4/5 — Just missing the chord diagrams

*2025-10-09, version 1.1.8*

This app would be 5 starts perfect if it just showed you the chords you were hearing.

## Frequently asked questions about Circle of Fifths

### What is the Circle of Fifths app?

This app is a visual tool designed to help users understand music theory. It illustrates the relationships between the 12 keys of the chromatic scale, making it easier to visualize music notation, compose chord progressions, and mix in key.

### What are the key features of this music theory app?

Key features include color-coded relationships between major, minor, and diminished keys, display of key signatures and triads for each key, and a sounded chord/arpeggio for each key with a mute toggle. It also offers the ability to lock the circle to a selected key and a tappable legend indicating key degrees.

### Is this app free to use?

Yes, the application is available for free. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned, suggesting a completely free experience for users.

### Who would benefit from using the Circle of Fifths app?

This app is ideal for musicians, composers, and music students who want to improve their understanding of music theory. It's particularly useful for those looking to compose chord progressions, understand modulations, or mix music in key.

### What kind of music theory concepts can I learn with this app?

You can learn about the relationships between different keys, understand key signatures, identify triads for each key, and explore how chords function within a key. It's a comprehensive tool for visualizing and internalizing fundamental music theory principles.

## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 1.1.9 — 2026-05-30

It's been a minute but it's time for an update!

Included in this version:
- Fixes an issue where tapping the more menu would immediately dismiss the action sheet

### 1.1.8 — 2023-02-19

I know it's been a while... But wait no longer! Here's a little update to keep things fresh.

Included in this version:

- Germanic notation
- Open Key Notation
- Hide or show diminished chords
- Improvements and bug fixes

### 1.1.5 — 2021-10-22

Updated UI to align more closely with Apple Human Interface Guidelines
Updated audio engine

### 1.1.4 — 2021-03-24

No release notes.

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| --- | --- | --- | --- |
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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-16.*