In order to make memorization of the order of sharps and flats easier, we’re going to apply a commonly used mnemonic device as well as a couple of tricks that all musicians including those of us who’re not yet fluent readers can use for a quickly determining the sharps and flats of any major key.
#Music keys in order how to#
But in a melodic minor descending scale, none of the notes need to be raised.įor a complete list of all scales, see the Table of Scales.In this lesson on the order of sharps and flats, we will be looking at how to reduce the complexity of the circle of fifths to a few simple and easily memorized concepts. In a melodic minor ascending scale, both the 6th and 7th degrees of the scale (submediant and leading note) are raised by a semitone (half step). The enharmonic equivalent of this note is G natural, but you must not write G natural in the scale of G# minor - remember that each letter name can only be used once!ĭon't forget that in a harmonic minor scale, the leading note (7th degree of the scale) is always raised by a semitone (half step) by using an accidental, even if you use a key signature for the scale. The scale of G# minor uses a double sharp - the leading note (7th degree of the scale) is F. You can use this pattern for reference if you forget which notes need accidentals.Īs in grade 3, you need to know both types of minor scale - the harmonic and melodic. Don't forget that the pattern of tones and semitones (whole and half steps) in a major scale is always T-T-S-T-T-T-S. Here are the major scales of B and Db for you, written with accidentals. If the major key is Db major, the 6th note is Bb, so the relative minor key is Bb minor. So if the major key is B major, the 6th note is G#, which means the relative minor is G# minor. The relative minor key for each key signature can be found by working out the submediant note of the major key (6th degree of the scale).So if the last-but-one flat in the key signature is Db, then the key is Db major. A quick way to identify flat key signatures is to look at the last-but-one flat in the key signature - this will be the major key.So if the last sharp is A#, the key will be B major, because A# is the 7th degree of the scale of B major. Remember that a quick way to identify sharp key signatures is to look at the final sharp in the signature - this will be the leading note of the major key.Remember that key signature sharps and flats always appear on the stave itself - never on a ledger line! Flats are written starting on the middle line (treble clef) or low on the stave (bass clef). The last three sharps are one below the other. The second sharp is lower, and the third sharp is higher. Notice that the sharps start high up on the stave.The flats, in order, are Bb, Eb, Ab, Db and Gb:ĭon't forget that to write a key signature correctly, the flats/sharps have to be in right order and also in the right position on the stave. Here are the key signatures in treble and bass clef:
The sharps, in order, are F#, C#, G#, D# and A#. Grade three took us up to all keys with 4 sharps/flats, so we only have four new keys to learn in this grade - those that contain 5 sharps or flats in the key signature. In grade four you need to know the keys (key signature and scales) of all the major and minor keys, up to and including 5 sharps or 5 flats. This note is called the leading note because it is very often followed by the tonic when used in a melody - so it generally "leads to the tonic".
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