Now it is becoming evident how important it is to know the common major scales. Theory is based upon scales. It is also important to know what is sharp or flat in various major keys.
The cycle or circle of 5ths shows us what is sharp in the keys that have sharps. The circle of 4ths shows us what is flat in the keys that have flats.
The circle of 5ths is called this because every time you go five steps up from C, and add a sharp, that is the proper amount of sharps for that key. The order of the sharps added is: F C G D A E B. The saying to remember this order is: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle.
In the key of C there are no sharps. Five steps up from C is G. In the key of G the F notes are sharp. Five steps up from G is D, the F and C notes are sharp in the key of D. Every time you go up five steps you add one more sharp.
|
Circle of 5ths and Circle of 4ths |
| Key | What Notes Are Sharp |
|---|---|
| C | None |
| G | F# |
| D | F# C# |
| A | F# C# G# |
| E | F# C# G# D# |
| B | F# C# G# D# A# |
| F# | F# C# G# D# A# E# |
| C# | F# C# G# D# A# E# B# |
Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle:
The circle of 4ths tells us what is flat in the keys that have flats. Moving up four steps each time, starting from C, and adding one flat each time, demonstrates what is flat in each key.
In the key of C there are no flats, but four steps up is F. F has one flat. Four steps up again, this time from F, is Bb. The key of Bb has two flats. On it goes until the cycle is complete.
The saying to remember the order of flats is the exact opposite of the saying to remember the sharps.
Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles Father
Every time you go four steps up starting from C, add one more flat to find the key.
| Key | What Notes Are Flat |
|---|---|
| C | None |
| F | Bb |
| Bb | Bb Eb |
| Eb | Bb Eb Ab |
| Ab | Bb Eb Ab Db |
| Db | Bb Eb Ab Db Gb |
| Gb | Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb |
| Cb | Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb Fb |
Interesting facts about key signatures in notation:
If you sight read music it is interesting to see how the amount of flats or sharps in the key signature at the beginning of the music tells you immediately what key you are in. The order of sharps or flats will always be the same as the saying father charles goes; Such as if there are three sharps they will always be F, then C, then G. This applies to all keys.
To find what # key you are in take the last # and raise it one semi-tone.
To find the b key you are in simply go back one flat. Except in the key of F.