Using the Cycle of Thirds Diagram

The original svg files for this image may be found here.

The Basics:

• The three Minor Thirds Cycles (like C, Eb, Gb, A) are the squares.
• The four Major Thirds Cycles (like C, E, G) are located in three note groups to the sides of center.
• Tritones are located directly opposite each other in the same square, just like in the traditional circle of fifths or chromatic circle.
• Perfect Fourths move inward and clockwise, Perfect Fifths move outward and counterclockwise. When you reach the outermost square you return to the innermost, and vice-vesa.
• Whole Tone Scales are a complete vertical or horizontal line.
• Whole-Half Diminished Scales are a square and the next square outward.
• Half-Whole Diminished Scales are a square and the next square inward.
• Augmented Scales are a major thirds group and the next group clockwise.
• Inverted Augmented Scales are a major thirds group and the next group counterclockwise.
• Messiaen’s Third Modes (what Allan Holdsworth calls “two halves and a whole”) are a major thirds group and the groups clockwise and counterclockwise.