Circle Of Fifths Relative Finger Position Method (RFPM) 

Circle Of Fifths Relative Finger Position Method by Rockmaster

How to use the Circle Of Fifths Relative Finger Position Method in chord changing

Circle Of Fifths Relative Finger Position Method by Rockmaster

Circle Of Fifths Relative Finger Position Method (RFPM)

This is the Circle Of Fifths Relative Finger Position Method (RFPM) 

Circle Of Fifths For Left-Hand (Standard) Chord Changing

Main

When you form the first root triad, the bottom finger and the top finger are a 5th apart.

X - X - X                                          B       T                                             

So if you move the bottom finger (B) up to the note of the top finger (T)  you will get to the chord that is a 5th up.

If you move the top finger (T) down to the note of the bottom finger (B) you will get to the chord that is a 5th down.

Circle Of Fifths (Ascending)

Move the bottom finger (B) up to the note of the top finger (T), you will get to the chord that is a 5th up.

C   X – X – X                                                                G           X – X – X                                                       Dm                  X – X – X                                                Am                          X – X - X                                       Em                                  X – X – X                             Bdim                                        X – X – X                        F                                                   X – X - X                C                                                           X – X – X

But as you can see, if you keep doing that you will move out of the chord range area of the keyboard and eventually run out of keyboard.

Alternate

So instead of moving the bottom finger (B) up to the note of the top finger (T),  move the top finger (T) down to the note above the bottom finger (B + 1)

                          B       T
G                         X – X – X                                     Dm                  X – X – X                <   (B + 1)

By alternating these two methods you will be able to play the circle of 5ths and stay in the chord range area of the keyboard.

C                   X – X – X                      G                           X – X – X              Dm                    X – X – X                    Am                            X – X – X           Em                      X – X – X              Bdim                            X – X – X          F                         X – X – X                C                                 X – X – X

C                          X – X – X                      G                    X – X – X                     Dm                           X – X – X                    Am                     X – X – X                  Em                             X – X – X              Bdim                     X – X – X                 F                                X – X – X                C                          X – X – X

Summary

Move the bottom finger (B) up to the note of the top finger (T).

or

Move the top finger (T) down to the note above the bottom finger (B + 1).

Circle Of Fifths (Descending)

Move the top finger (T) down to the note of the bottom finger (B), you will get to the chord that is a 5th down.

C                                                           X – X – X                
F                                                   X – X – X                                                                      Bdim                                        X - X - X                        
Em                                  X – X - X                                Am                          X – X – X                                                      Dm                  X – X – X                                                  G           X – X - X                                                        C   X – X – X

But as you can see, if you keep doing that you will move out of the chord range area of the keyboard and eventually run out of keyboard.

Alternate

So instead of moving the top finger (T) down to the note of the bottom finger (B),  move the bottom finger (B) up to the note below the top finger (T – 1)

                       B       T                                         F                      X – X – X                                      Bdim                         X – X – X     >    (T - 1)

By alternating these two methods you will be able to play the circle of 5ths and stay in the chord range area of the keyboard.

C                        X – X – X                  F                X – X – X                      Bdim                   X – X – X                  Em             X – X – X                          Am                   X – X – X                    Dm           X – X – X                             G                  X – X – X                        C          X – X – X

C                    X – X – X                          F                          X – X – X                          Bdim               X – X – X                      Em                       X – X – X                             Am               X – X – X                        Dm                     X – X – X                             G              X – X – X                           C                    X – X – X

Summary

Move the top finger (T) down to the note of the bottom finger (B)

or

Move the bottom finger (B) up to the note below the top finger (T – 1).

Note. You may use this method for both left hand (Standard) and right hand (Rockstyle) chord changes.

Play songs using Circle Of Fifths

Circle of Fifths Worksheet

Circle of Fifths Songsheet

Relative Finger Position Method (RFPM) for Chord Changing

Chord Changing Methods

Circle Of Fifths Finger Position Method by Rockmaster