MTed is right: The effect of the circle of fifths is to use a series of seventh chords each of which anticipates (but doesn't resolve itself in) the next, until reaching the tonic, which is a triad, and the resolution for the series. Sounds technical, but play it and see how easy it is: Two step circle of fifths progression C, D7, G7, C

3 step, C, A7, D7, G7, C.

4 step, C, E7, A7, D7, G7, C

Before my hard drive crashed I had a chart of the circle of fifths I made for my students. I still have it, but it's in a floppy at school. I'll bring it home and save it as a GIF file and e-mail anyone who would like to have it. Of course, you can find such a circle in many instrumental instruction books.

By the way, here's a song that you can practice that features a four-step circle of fifths progression:

(C)Five foot two, (E7)eyes of blue,
(A7)Oh what those five feet can do,
Has (D7)anybody [G7]seen my (C)gal?(G7)

(C)Turned up nose, (E7)turned down hose,
(A7)Flapper? yes sir, one of those,
Has (D7)anybody [G7]seen my (C)gal?

If you should (B7)run into a five-foot-two
All(E7)Covered with furs,
(A7)Diamond rings, all those things,
You can (D7)bet your life hat it isn't her,

But (C)could she love, (E7)could she woo,
(A7)Could she cootchie-cootchie coo,
Has (D7)anybody [G7]seen my (C)gal?

Note--Bracketed chords occur at the half measure. Others receive a full measure except all the A7 chords plus the D7 in the bridge receive two full measures.

Work this one out and you will find one important use for the circle of fifths. Another, of course, is for transposing songs to other keys, but more on that when I have the chart to send you.

--seed