C
B
<
F
G
D
E
C
<
A
<
D
<
C
>
F
>
B
A
G
<
E
<
C
F
B
<
A
>
D
>
G
>
A
<
C
>
A E
B
F
>
E
<
D
G
The Turnaround
The IIm-V7 (often called two-five) combination of chords is called a
turnaround
and is frequently used in jazz. Any two consecutive roots on the wheel moving
counter-clockwise produce a IIm-V7 turnaround combination.
The combination is often played the end of a musical phrase because it “turns
around” the chord progression and starts it over again. A turnaround usually
leads to the tonic chord. In the key of C major, the turnaround would be Dm
(IIm), Gdom7 (V7), C (I). You will notice that if we begin on the D on the outer
ring of the circle and move counter-clockwise, we encounter the G and the C in
the same order as played to create a turnaround.
II
V
V
7
IIIIm
m
V
VIIm
m
IIIIIIm
m
36
Down a 5th
or
Up a 4th
Up a 5th
or
Down a 4th
Rotating counter-clockwise shows the roots
for a IIm-V7-I turnaround. Ex: In the key of
F that looks like: Gm, C7, F
IIV
V
Circle
of 5ths
Finding the Tonal Center
Another use for the wheel is analyzing tonal centers of a piece of music. Often a
piece of music will change keys. (You can’t always tell the tonal center just by
looking at the
key signature
.) However, since the presence of a dominant chord
often determines the tonal center, the wheel can suggest a possible center. To
find the center, identify the root of the dominant chord on the outer ring and
move along counter-clockwise one note. This note will probably be the center.
For instance, if a Ddom7 appears in a piece of music, find the D, then move
counter-clockwise one note. The result is G, the tonal center.
