If you have a flat key signature, you’ll first have to remember that F major uses 1 flat (Bb).
The next semitone up is A, so this key signature represents A Major. The next semitone up will be the tonic, or 1st note in the scale, and will be the major key.įor example, look at the following key signature: This is the leading note, which is the 7th note in the scale. If you have a sharp key signature, look at the last sharp in the pattern. How do I work out a major key from a key signature? Write the letters backwards to find the order of flats B-E-A-D-G-C-F! (This phrase has seven sharps and flats, but you only need to learn up to six for grade 5 theory!) The first letter of each word gives you the order of sharps. Remember that you count 4 for flats- the word “flat” has 4 letters!Īnother method is to learn a phrase like this:įather - Christmas - Gave - Daddy - An - Empty - Box Remember that you count 5 for sharps- the word “sharp” has 5 letters! Repeat the process to find the next flat: E- F- G- A, so the next flat is Ab, and so on. To remember the order of the flats, starting at B(b), count 4 notes forward: B-C-D- E, so the next flat is Eb. Repeat the process to find the next sharp: C-D-E-F- G, so the next sharp is G#, and so on. To remember the order of the sharps, start at F (#) and then count 5 notes forward: F-G-A-B- C. Make sure you never write a sharp/flat on a ledger line in a key signature! Look again at the examples above, and notice where the pattern is the same and where it is different. With the flat keys, all the clefs follow the same basic "up-down" pattern. However, tenor clef is quite different and has to be learnt separately. With the sharp keys, the general "up-down" pattern is the same for treble, bass and alto clef.
Music keys explained how to#
Learning how to write key signatures correctly isn’t as hard as you might think.
How can I learn all these different key signatures? In these positions on the staff (Treble, Bass, Alto then Tenor clef): The sharps are written in this order: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#. You will need to know how to write any key signature up to six sharps/flats in any clef for Grade 5 Theory! There are two important things to remember about writing them: You must write key signatures very carefully. Here are some examples, with the keys they represent: Also, without a key signature, you would have to do some detective work to find out what key a piece is actually in.Įach key signature represents two keys: one minor key and one major key. Key signatures are used in order to make it unnecessary to fill up the staves with flats and sharps on many notes. The key signature tells you what that key is. Every piece of tonal music is in a certain key, which will be either major or minor. In your ABRSM Grade 5 Theory exam, all the musical examples are based on tonal music.
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