[Dixielandjazz] Re: Circle Of Fifths

[Dan Augustine]

John and DJML--
     Back when i was in college in 19(cough cough), the "circle of 
fifths" referred to notes, not to chords. The 'circle' was this (and 
it was indeed 5ths, not 4ths, and you could start on any note):
        C - G - D - A - E - B - F# - C# - G# - D# - A# - E# - B#
On the equal-tempered piano this is a circle, because  B# is the same 
note as C.  But in 'reality' (whatever that is), B# is actually 24 
cents (24/100 of a semitone) sharper than C.
     It's actually a spiral, not a circle, except on an equal-tempered 
piano, and "equal temperament" is only one of the many temperaments 
(meantone, 'well-tempered', etc.).
     Please see my monograph on temperament coming out in the April 
issue of _Bass Masters_.

     Dan
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>From: DWSI at aol.com
>Date: Mon, 7 Nov 2005 19:16:22 EST
>To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
>Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Re: Circle Of Fifths
>
>In a message dated 11/7/2005 9:15:15 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
>dixielandjazz-request at ml.islandnet.com writes:
>
>If I  have understood this term correctly it means the harmonic sequence
>where,  for instance, C7 resolves to F, F7 to Bb, Bb7 to Eb and so on
>eventually  returning to the starting point. What I do not understand is why
>is it  known as a circle of fifths when the intervals concerned are fourths -
>F is  the fourth of C etc. etc.
>
>Or have I got it completely  wrong?
>
>John Farrell
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>John:
>
>It is all about perspective. Resolve means from the V to the  I; e.g., from
>G7 to C, etc., G is the fifth interval (perfect fifth) in the key 
>of C. But if
>you're thinking ahead, going from G up to C, it's a fourth  interval. It is
>also called the circle of fourths for this  reason. Help any?
>
>Dan Spink

-- 
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**  Dan Augustine  --  Austin, Texas  --  ds.augustine at mail.utexas.edu
**      "Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?"     
**            -- Charlie McCarthy  (Edgar Bergen, 1903-1978)         
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