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Key Signatures
got
you flustered?? |
No problem! Understanding a few simple
concepts will have you well on your way to a successful music theory
experience.
Number 1
In determining a key signature for any named major
key, it's important to know whether the key signature has sharps or
flats.
With the exception of the key of C
major (no sharps or flats) and F major (one flat), any
"stand-alone" letter is going to be a major key with
sharps: G, D, A, E, B, F#, C#. Of course if a sharp
follows the letter name (F#, C#), the key signature will have
sharps. If a flat follows the letter name, the key signature
will have flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb,
Cb.
C Major
(no sharps or flats) |
| Sharps |
Flats |
| G (1) |
F (1) |
| D (2) |
Bb (2) |
| A (3) |
Eb (3) |
| E (4) |
Ab (4) |
| B (5) |
Db (5) |
| F# (6) |
Gb (6) |
| C# (7) |
Cb (7) |
Number 2
In order to determine the name of a major key that
contains sharps, simply name the note that is a half-step above the
last sharp.
Above,
the last sharp is D#, so the major key would be E major.
In
order to determine the name of a major key that contains flats,
simply name the next-to-last flat and that will be the key.
Again, the key of F major, with one flat, is the
exception.
Above,
the next-to-last flat is Ab, which is the name of the major
key.
Number 3
Okay, that works fine if you're given the key
signature, but what if you're given a "tonic note" and
asked to come up with the major key signature?
That's
when you need the info from the table under Number 1. You must
know whether you're going to be creating a key signature with sharps
or flats.
What should go through your brain if you
are given the following tonic note and asked to provide a major key
signature, or provide accidentals to form a major scale based on
this note?
-
Is it a major key with sharps or a major key
with flats?
-
The note is B-natural, not Bb, so it's
going to be a major key with sharps! Coo'.
-
If I can determine the name of a major key
signature by going up a half-step from the last sharp,
then, conversely, I can determine the last sharp by going down
a half-step from the tonic note, B. (... Man, this theory
stuff isn't as confusing as Burnette is making it out to be.)
-
It sure is a good thing I memorized the order of
sharps or I'd be up a creek right about now.
-
Let's see ... Fat Charlie Goes
Down All Escalators Backwards:
F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#.
-
If A# is the last sharp, then the key of B major
has five sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#.
Piece of cake, eh? Now, what if you're given this
note?
-
Okay, this has got to be a major key with
flats because the note is Db ... duh!
-
If I can determine the name of a major key
signature by naming the next-to-last flat, then, conversely, I
can add one more flat to come up with the number of flats in the
stinkin' key signature!
-
It sure is a good thing I know that the order of
flats is the exactly the same as the order of sharps, but in
reverse: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb,
Cb, Fb.
-
So, then, if I add one more flat beyond Db, I'll
have five flats--Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb,
the key signature for Db major.
Number 4
Alright, I've got the key signature stuff down
now--quite a breeze--but this relative major and minor hoopla
still throws me ....
All you've got to do is remember the easy
formula--the relationship between C Major and a
minor. These two keys share the same key signature, as
do other keys sharing the same relationship.
For any given major key, its relative minor key will
lie a minor third (m3) below. For any given minor key,
its relative major key will lie a minor third above.
If
you are given the major key F# and asked for its relative minor key,
you simply navigate down a minor third, and your answer is d#
minor. These two keys share the same key signature: six
sharps.
If you are given the minor key eb and
asked for its relative major key, you simply navigate up a
minor third, and your answer is Gb major. These two
keys share the same key signature: six flats.
