Never succeeded in grasping this concept
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A half step is the smallest movement possible on a piano, and a 5th is comprised of 7 half steps.
G is the 5th of C.
C-C#-D-D#-E-F-F#-G, each dash is a half step. This is important because this is how you find the 5th of any note.
If we start at C:
G is the 5th of C
D is the 5th of G
A is the 5th of D
E is the 5th of A
B is the 5th of E
F# is the 5th of B
C# is the 5th of F#
G# is the 5th of C#, but rather than continuing with G#, let’s call it Ab for the rest of the list as it makes things easier.
Eb is the 5th of Ab
Bb is the 5th of Eb
F is the 5th of Bb
C is the 5th of F
We got back to C. Starting at any note, we circle back around to the starting note by cycling through all the notes by 5ths. That’s all the circle of 5th is, an ever revolving cycle.
Edit: well, it’s not ALL the circle is. It has implications for memorizing key signatures and if depicted in certain ways, can help you find chords that work well together in a song. But at its core, the circle of 5ths is just a coincidence that results from the structure of music.
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