Before we begin:
A few weeks back, I shared some details on the harmony from "Daisies" by Justin Bieber.
I just made a video diving deeper into the harmonic tools used to create the song, the complete breakdown of inversions, chord colors, timing choices, and how they all work together.
Hey music maker!
Play this progression
A7 → D7 → G7 → C7 → B7
It's a very smooth progression, and there's a nice pattern creating that smoothness. What's your thought?
If you guessed the 7ths, that's part of the reason.
Each chord drops by a perfect fifth, creating a pull that's practically magnetic.
With the 7ths in place and the fifth-based root motion, we have dominant 7ths (tension machines begging for resolution). Together, they create one of music's strongest momentum engines.
You've heard this motion in a lot of tunes across just about every style of music.
REAL SONG. REAL PROGRESSION
💿 "Fly Me to the Moon" (Frank Sinatra) and "I Will Survive" (Gloria Gaynor)
Both use this descending-fifths cycle: Am7 - Dm7 - G7 - Cmaj7 - Fmaj7 - Bø7 - E7 - Am7
Nashville Numbers (in C major): 6m - 2m - 5 - 1 - 4 - 7dim - 3 - 6m
Notice the pattern?
Each chord drops by a fifth, traveling around the Circle of Fifths. That's why the motion feels smooth, natural, inevitable.
This is everywhere. The progression we opened with is the chorus for "Shining Star" by Earth, Wind & Fire.
That song is an awesome demonstration of a good way to use this idea because the band grooves on an E7 chord throughout the verse, then they bring in this circle of fifths motion for the chorus.
This motion is used constantly in jazz standards. But as you can see, it’s also a staple of funk, dance, and you'll even find it in sequences in pop music.
This motion is foundational for your toolkit.
💡 IDEA OF THE WEEK
The Circle of Fifths isn’t just a boring music diagram; it’s a powerful tool to reference and see how chords want to move.
Chords that are a fifth apart fit together naturally. They're close relatives. When you move from one to the next, it sounds smooth because your ear recognizes the connection.
Think of it like stepping stones across a river. Each chord is close enough to the next one that the jump feels easy and natural.
What makes fifths so powerful?
The fifth is one of the most stable intervals we have. When you move by fifths, each new chord feels like it's landing exactly where it should. Your ear knows what's coming before it happens.
That predictability creates momentum and the progression has direction built in.
Why don't songwriters use all twelve chords?
Traveling the entire circle takes 12 chords. That's long and boring in most cases.
Most songs use a few fifths in a row, then break the pattern to get back home.
"Fly Me to the Moon" does this. So does "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder and “Shining Star” by Earth Wind, and Fire. They follow the circle for a few chords, then shift to a different interval to land back on the tonic.
The pattern gives you momentum. The break gives you resolution.
🎯 THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE
Play this descending-fifths chain: A7 - D7 - G7 - C7 - B7
Land it on E major or E7.
Then try this:
Swap one dominant 7 for a minor 7 (hear how it changes the tension)
Use this motion in a pre-chorus or bridge (to create natural lift and momentum)
🛠️ CREATOR TOOLKIT
While you're practicing circle of fifths progressions or any other music, it's good to have a reliable stand.
Most music stands either wobble or are a pain to adjust. I've been using the KraftGeek Capsule Music Stand, and it's solved both problems.
Sets up in seconds, goes from 29 to 66 inches, holds tablets and chord charts at eye level. I use it every day practicing bass and guitar—iPad on the stand when I'm learning from a course, Real Book open when I'm running through songs.
Light enough to move room to room, so I actually use it more.
15% off with code MELVIN15.
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