#MAJOR MUSIC KEYS HOW TO#

If the signature has sharps, identify the last sharp and raise it by a semitone (half step). Here’s one way you can look at major music key signatures and know what keys they represent. Here’s another chart showing major keys and their relative minors. The following diagram shows the cycle of keys or circle of fifths (circle of fourths). Memorize this pattern of letters forwards and backwards to remember the order of sharps and flats. Learn this line: Fat Cats Go Down Alleys Eating Birds. Here’s a trick to remember the order of sharps. You will notice that the first four letters in the order of flats spell the word BEAD. The order of flats are opposite to the order of sharps. The order of flats are Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb Fb. Gb major has six flats, Bb Eb Ab Db Gb CbĬb major has seven flats, Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb FbĪs seen above the order of sharps are F# C# G# D# A# E# B#.

Let’s take a look at flat keys and the number of flats they have. Let’s take a look at sharp keys and the number of sharps they come with, as well as the order of sharps.į# major has six sharps, F# C# G# D# A# E#Ĭ# major has seven sharps, F# C# G# D# A# E# B# Sharp keys, the number and order of sharps These sharps and flats have a particular order as you will notice below.

#MAJOR MUSIC KEYS HOW TO#

Learn about key signatures (and how to play piano) with Rocket Piano lessons.Įach music key signature comes with a particular number of sharps and flats. Here’s a diagram showing the different key signatures, major and minor on the bass and treble clef. Music written in minor keys often sound sad while those in major keys sound happier. A major key and its relative minor key make use of the same scale. The relative minor for F major is D minor. For instance, the relative minor key for C major is A minor. Major keys all have a relative minor key. They make it so much easier to read music. Key signatures help to reduce on the number of accidentals that would be in a piece of music if they were not present. So every time the note B appears, the note B flat is played instead. Notice the flat sign over the B line in both the treble and bass clef? This means that every time the note F appears, it will be raised by a semitone to F sharp.Īnother example is the key of F Major or D minor. Notice that the sharp sign is over the F line in the treble clef as well as the bass clef.

My #1 Recommendation: Go here to learn about the BEST piano/keyboard course I’ve seen online.įor instance, let’s take a look at the signature for the key of G or E minor. The only times they don’t affect a note are when there’s a natural sign on that note or when there’s a key change. These sharps and flats (accidentals) affect every note on the line or space they represent throughout the entire composition. Music key signatures are sharps and flats immediately following the clef sign.

Major music keys