The Guitarist’s Guide to the Circle of Fifths

VISUAL MUSIC THEORY FOR GUITARISTS

The Guitarist's Guide to the Circle of Fifths

By Ry Naylor

Finally understand the theory behind every chord, scale, and key and how it all maps to your guitar neck. 182 pages of visual, step-by-step instruction designed specifically for guitarists, not music school graduates.

$24.99

WHAT YOU GET

Everything you get

Music theory that finally makes sense

Everything a guitarist needs to unlock the Circle of Fifths — and start using it immediately.

182 pages

Comprehensive, step-by-step instruction from the basics all the way to modes and advanced chord progressions.

Test Your Knowledge

Interactive quiz sections throughout the book to lock in concepts before moving forward.

Visual infographics

Stunning, fretboard-focused diagrams that make abstract theory instantly visible and memorable.

Beginner to advanced

Part 1 builds the foundation. Part 2 goes deep into modes, chord construction, and more.

WATCH THE INTRODUCTION

See what's inside

Ry walks you through the book and shows you exactly what you'll learn.

A structured path to mastery

From confused to confident — step by step

Ry's method builds understanding progressively, so every concept clicks before the next one begins.

STEP 1

Understand the Circle

Learn what the Circle of Fifths actually is, why it matters, and how every key, chord, and scale fits within it — using clear visual diagrams built for guitar players.

STEP 2

Apply It to the Fretboard

Map scales, keys, and chord progressions directly onto the neck. See exactly how theory translates to the guitar — not just in abstract notation, but in shapes you can play right now.

STEP 3

Play with Understanding

Use your new knowledge to write progressions, improvise with confidence, identify modes, and communicate fluently with other musicians — all grounded in the Circle.

Stop guessing. Start understanding.

182 pages · beautiful infographics · practical exercises · Test Your Knowledge sections

WHAT YOU WILL COVER

The complete Circle of Fifths for guitarists

FOUNDATIONS

Everything starts here

CHORDS & PROGRESSIONS

Build music that works

ADVANCED CONCEPTS

Go further with modes & harmony

"After years of struggling with music theory, Ry's new book is a game changer. Understand the Circle of Fifths and you're on your way to understanding music theory that works for guitarists."

Stirling A. Kotze • Verified Amazon Review

LOOK INSIDE

See the quality for yourself

Click any page to zoom in

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CHOOSE YOUR FORMAT

Available in PDF & Paperback

Both formats include all audio, video, and bonus content.

Digital PDF

Paperback

WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING

Verified Amazon reviews

for The Guitarist's Guide to the Circle of Fifths

You will finish this book as a new musician

This book is amazing for anyone who wants to learn the Circle of Fifths. Ry is the best teacher out there when it comes to guitar music theory. I have bought countless books on theory and wish I had found Ry's stuff earlier. His information just instantly makes sense to me.

Ab G

August 2024

Invaluable at every level

I've been playing for 30 years, but this book really opened my eyes. Ry highlights insights into the relationships between the notes up and down the neck that decades of playing by ear never revealed to me. It's great for new players too — imagine starting out with an understanding of how chords and notes of popular music fit together.

Obi-Wan Quixote

July 2024

The BEST book on the Circle of Fifths

Extremely well-written and beautifully illustrated, with content presented in a logical and easy-to-understand format. Ry is an exceptional guitarist and a terrific teacher. You'll find a TON of value from buying, reading, and working through this book — and it's also very reasonably priced.

A. Price

July 2024

Game changer!

After years of struggling with music theory, Ry's new book is a game changer. I am well into the book and my musical mind is learning faster than on any other course I've attempted. One tip: get to grips with the content before you move on. Finish the book with understanding. Great teacher!

Stirling A. Kotze

August 2024

An excellent guide

Ry Naylor has a reputation for producing excellent music infographics — but this book is much more than that. This is the course you didn't know you needed. Concepts are graded so they get a little more complex as you work through. Your playing will improve by following this guide.

Kim

October 2024

Outstanding reference manual

Ry Naylor is undoubtedly one of the finest guitar instructors I've ever come across. The Circle of Fifths can be a daunting subject, but this book lays things out so clearly and thoroughly. Ry has a "magical" way of breaking things down where you can't help but understand the value of whatever subject he teaches.

rockinmc

July 2024

COMMON QUESTIONS

Everything you need to know

Is this course for beginners, intermediate, or advanced players?

Both. Part 1 builds the fundamentals from the ground up — perfect for guitarists who feel lost with music theory. Part 2 goes deeper into modes, chord construction, and advanced applications. One reviewer with 30 years of playing experience said it still revealed things they had never understood. As noted by one UK reviewer, it's most rewarding for improving intermediate players and above, though beginners will absolutely benefit from Part 1.

What format does the digital version come in?

The digital version is a full-colour PDF you can read on any device — phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. Because the book is built around visual diagrams and infographics, we recommend reading it on a larger screen or printing it at home for the best experience.

What's different about the paperback?

The paperback is a large-format physical book (8.5 × 11 inches, 182 pages) sold and shipped via Amazon. It's ideal for keeping on a music stand or desk while you practice. The content is identical to the digital version but it's not colored.

Do I need to know music theory already?

No prior theory knowledge is required. The book is specifically written for guitarists — not music school graduates. Ry explains everything step by step, starting with what the Circle of Fifths actually is and building progressively from there. If you can play a few chords, you have everything you need to get started.

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Ry Naylor

Ry Naylor is a renowned guitar instructor known for making music theory genuinely accessible to players at every level. His infographics and visual teaching style have built a passionate following across Instagram, YouTube, and his online courses — where thousands of guitarists have finally made sense of concepts that once seemed impenetrable. The Guitarist's Guide to the Circle of Fifths is his most comprehensive work yet — a step-by-step visual system designed specifically for how guitarists think, learn, and play. It is his answer to the question he hears most often: "Why didn't anyone explain it like this before?"

FULL BREAKDOWN

Course Overview

Get a closer look at the curriculum, chapter by chapter.

Introduction: The Circle of Fifths — Your Ultimate Music Theory Cheat Sheet

You're about to discover why the Circle of Fifths is the single most powerful tool in music theory. You'll understand how one diagram holds the keys to every scale, chord, and key in Western music — and why mastering it will transform the way you think on the guitar. You'll see why skipping theory has been holding you back, and how the Circle makes it all click. By the end, you'll be ready to unlock 12 Circle Facts that will permanently level up your musicianship.

Circle Fact 1: The Circle Is Built from Ascending Perfect Fifths

You'll master the foundation of the entire Circle by understanding how perfect fifths stack clockwise from C to build the diagram. You'll learn the major scale formula — the essential ruler for measuring every interval in music — and see exactly how it works on the fretboard. You'll discover why the fifth is called "perfect," how power chords are built from it, and what happens when you flip it upside down. Nail this, and everything else in the Circle will make complete sense.

Circle Fact 2: Each Clockwise Step from C Adds One Sharp to the Key Signature

You'll conquer all seven sharp keys — G, D, A, E, B, F♯, and C♯ major — and master the simple rule that makes them all predictable. You'll learn that every new sharp is always the 7th degree of the new scale, so you'll never have to guess again. With real fretboard diagrams and scale spellings for each key, you'll be able to build any sharp key signature on the spot. By the end, one glance at the Circle is all you'll need to know exactly which notes are sharp.

Circle Fact 3: Each Counterclockwise Step from C Adds One Flat to the Key Signature

You'll master the flat side of the Circle, working through F, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, and C♭ major with total confidence. You'll learn the mirror-image rule: every new flat is always the 4th degree of the new scale — simple, consistent, and easy to remember. You'll also unlock the "Circle of Fourths" concept and see how counterclockwise movement is just ascending fourths in disguise. After this, key signatures will never feel intimidating again.

Circle Fact 4: There Are Three Enharmonic Notes

You'll uncover one of music theory's most fascinating secrets — notes that have two different names but live on the exact same fret. You'll master the three enharmonic pairs (B/C♭, F♯/G♭, C♯/D♭) and learn exactly when and why musicians choose one name over the other. You'll also discover that notes like E♯, B♯, and F♭ actually exist — and why that matters for understanding chord construction. This knowledge will make you sound like a seasoned theorist when talking music with other players.

Circle Fact 5: The Order of Sharp and Flat Notes Is Hidden in the Circle

You'll discover that the exact order of sharps (F-C-G-D-A-E-B) and flats (B-E-A-D-G-C-F) is already encoded inside the Circle — you just need to know where to look. You'll master a quick, reliable method to work out any key signature on the fly without memorizing lists. You'll also learn the "Sawtooth Circle" pattern and how to physically navigate these note sequences up and down the guitar neck. After this, you'll be able to recall any key signature in seconds.

Circle Fact 6: The Relative Minor Is in the Inner Layer of the Circle

You'll unlock the inner layer of the Circle and master one of the most important relationships in all of music — the relative minor. You'll learn exactly why the relative minor starts on the 6th degree of the major scale, and how it shares every note and key signature with its relative major. You'll achieve the ability to instantly identify any relative minor key just by glancing at the Circle or looking three frets down on the fretboard. This is a game-changer for understanding songs, solos, and chord progressions.

Circle Fact 7: Chords in a Key Are Found Together in the Circle

You'll master how to extract all six chords of any major or minor key from a simple three-segment window on the Circle — no guesswork, no memorization. You'll learn Roman numeral analysis, understand why the I-IV-V are the backbone of thousands of songs, and see how the diminished chord fits into the full seven-chord picture. You'll achieve the ability to instantly identify chord sets in any key and find their root notes across the fretboard. This section is your foundation for everything harmony-related.

Circle Fact 8: The Circle Is Invaluable for Songwriting and Music Analysis

You'll learn to use the Circle as your personal songwriting and ear-training tool — identifying keys, analyzing progressions, and crafting your own chord sequences with confidence. You'll master the ii-V-I, secondary dominants, chord borrowing from the parallel minor, and the clockwise and counterclockwise Circle progressions heard in iconic songs. You'll achieve the ability to hear a song, locate its key on the Circle, and understand exactly why its chords work together. This is where theory becomes music.

Circle Fact 9: The Pentatonic Scales Are in the Circle

You'll discover that the pentatonic scales you already love to play are hiding right inside the Circle. You'll master how five consecutive clockwise segments give you any major pentatonic scale, and how the relative minor pentatonic is always found in the same inner-layer segment. You'll learn to locate both major and minor pentatonic scales in any key instantly, backed up by fretboard diagrams. After this, you'll never have to think twice about which pentatonic scale to reach for.

Circle Fact 10: The Circle Is a Guide for Studying Intervals

You'll dive into one of the most elegant features of the Circle — a complete map of every musical interval built right into its structure. You'll master the clockwise/counterclockwise interval table and learn the "9 is the Magic Number" rule that lets you instantly calculate any interval inversion. You'll achieve a deep understanding of the tritone, why it creates tension in dominant chords, and how tritone substitution works in jazz and beyond. This is advanced knowledge that will set you apart as a musician.

Circle Fact 11: Chord "Shapes" Can Be Formed in the Circle

You'll learn to see chords in a completely new way — as geometric shapes drawn inside the Circle. You'll master triads (triangles), seventh chords (quadrilaterals), and extended chords (pentagons), understanding exactly why each chord sounds the way it does. You'll discover the stunning symmetry of augmented and diminished chords, and how tritone substitution is literally a reflection inside the diagram. By the end, you'll be able to construct and understand virtually any chord type directly from the Circle.

Circle Fact 12: The Circle Is a Guide for Studying Major Scale Modes

You'll finally crack the code on modes — one of the most misunderstood topics in guitar theory. You'll master all seven modes from brightest (Lydian) to darkest (Locrian) using a simple seven-segment window that you slide around the Circle. You'll learn the characteristic interval of each mode and understand exactly what gives it its unique sound and flavour. By the end, you'll be able to derive the notes of any mode in any key on demand — and actually hear the difference when you play them.