At peril of causing more confusion, I will say that, though I studied music theory in music school, the circle of fifths didn't make practical sense until I was hired to play casuals(basically a pick-up band that played standards for parties and such things).

The leader/guitarist/singer who hired me(a wise, kind, and patient man, unlike the others in the band) quickly explained a few things.

First, that the old standards, (unlike the folk and rock music that I usually played), nearly always moved thru the circle of 4ths. Second, that the strings on the guitar(and electric bass, which is what I usually played) were a 4th apart. Third, and most important,that if he told me what key we were in and how far out in the circle the progression went, I could start on the key note, jump up the neck and walk back down.

He also told me to never drop the rhythm, even if I was lost, and he taught me a trick for deadening a bad note so you could feel the beat without hearing a mistake(still use that a lot).

Did it for several years--many of my jazz, rock, and folk music friends were highly disdainful, but I worked regularly, and got paid, which is special in it's own way:-)