Preparatory work Major Key signatures : GooD AlE BeeF # b

Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle ORDER of #s and bs : Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle # b

Minor Key signatures : Minor keys do not have their own key signatures. They ‘borrow’ a key signature from the major. Two rules must apply in all cases. 1. Count up 3 note names. 2. Count up 3 semitones. Now adjust the top note if you have to.

Remember where the semitones are:

There are semitones between E and F, and B and C. That is, there are no notes between E and F, and B and C.

Some examples:

What is the key signature for A minor?

Gives us the letter C Up 3 semitones? Gives us the note C Up 3 note names? (Count inclusive – A, B, C) Gives us the letter C Up 3 semitones? Gives us the note C

A minor has the same key signature then as C major Which is? No sharps or flats

What is the key signature for D minor?

Gives us the letter F Up 3 semitones? Gives us the note F Up 3 note names? (Count inclusive – D, E, F) Gives us the letter F Up 3 semitones? Gives us the note F

D minor has the same key signature then as F major Which is? One flat

D minor

One more easy example

What is the key signature for E minor?

Gives us the letter G Up 3 semitones? Gives us the note G Up 3 note names? (Count inclusive – E, F, G) Gives us the letter G Up 3 semitones? Gives us the note G

E minor has the same key signature then as G major Which is? One sharp

E minor

Remember: BOTH rules must apply NO exceptions

What is the key signature for C minor?

Up 3 semitones? C to D is 2 semitones. Follow the rules. Up 3 note names? (Count inclusive – C, D, E) Gives us the letter E Up 3 semitones? C to D is 2 semitones. D to E is 2 semitones – oops! TOO many

How do we lose a semitone? We can’t adjust the C, as that is the key we want How do we lose a semitone? Remember BOTH rules must apply Answer - lower the E to Eb.

This gives 3 names and 4 semitones How do we lose a semitone? Remember BOTH rules must apply Answer - lower the E to Eb.

C minor has the same key signature then as Eb major Which is? Three flats

What is the key signature for F# minor?

Remember: BOTH rules must apply NO exceptions

Up 3 semitones? F# to G is 1 semitone. Follow the rules. Up 3 note names? (Count inclusive – F, G, A) Gives us the letter A Up 3 semitones? F# to G is 1 semitone. G to A is 2 semitones

This gives 3 names and 3 semitones

F# minor has the same key signature then as A major Which is? Three sharps

F#, C# and G# - in the Correct order.

B minor

G minor

Bb minor

Minor Scales : There are 2 types of minor scale : Harmonic and Melodic In each case, ‘borrow’ the key signature from the major relative. In both cases apply the key signature then - For Harmonic minor, raise note number 7 For Melodic minor, raise notes 6 and7 on the way up, than cancel them on the way down!