1. Key sigs as rules Order of sharps/flats Circle of 5ths Enharmonic keys
Key signatures
Key sigs as rules
Order of sharps/flats
Circle of 5ths
Enharmonic keys

2. Any pitch can be Do.
We move Do around to accommodate ranges of various instruments, quality of sound, and personal preference.
“Minuet in G” – key of G major. G is Do.
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 in D Major – D is Do.

3. Let’s consider the keyboard:
Start in C major: C is Do.
C major scale: C D E F G A B C’
What if I want to move Do up 3 half steps?
What is Do?
What pitches make up that scale?

4. Every key uses a different set of 7 pitches.
Remember that the scale consists of a very specific order of whole steps and half steps.
In order to keep that consistent, I have to alter pitches using sharps/flats.
Instead of writing:
I can save ink with a key signature:

5. Key signatures are rules
At the start of every piece
Key signatures contain 0 through 7 sharps OR flats.
The key signature shows which pitches, A through G, are permanently sharped or flatted.
We can temporarily break the rules of the key signature with single sharps, flats, or naturals within a measure.
Breaks the rule
until
Follows the rule again
Sets the rule

6. Flats and sharps have specific locations:
Exist on lines and spaces, just like notes do.
Specific order:

7. Every key has its own key signature:
We will practice drawing them soon… don’t do it yet.

8. Key signatures with sharps
C major has an empty key signature: 0 sharps, 0 flats.
Keys of G, D, A, E, B, F#, C#, G# major
Order of sharps is always the same: FCGDAEB
The last sharp is a half step below your key.

9. The last sharp is a half step below your key
Find your last sharp.
What is its name?
Step up by a half step to find Do

10. The last sharp is a half-step below your key: slower!

11. Key signatures with flats
Keys of F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, and Cb
Order of flats is always the same: BEADGCF
The second to last flat is always your key.
Exception: F major doesn’t have a “second to last” flat. We must memorize it.

12. The second to last flat is your key
Find your second to last flat
Identify it as ___-flat.
That is Do.

13. The second to last flat is your key (except F): slower!

14. Key signatures go in order…
Circle of Fifths: demonstrates the relationship of a fifth from one key to the next, when ordered by number of sharps/flats
Enharmonic: two pitches that sound the same, but are spelled differently.

15. Eventually, we can memorize the number of sharps or flats per key signature:
Key of:
C major 1
G major 2
D major 3
A major 4
E major 5
B major 6
F# major 7
C# major
Number of flats:
Key of:
C major 1
F major 2
Bb major 3
Eb major 4
Ab major 5
Db major 6
Gb major 7
Cb major

16. Practice:
On manuscript paper, draw all 15 key signatures, each separated by a bar line.
Draw a grand staff:
Draw and label all key sigs in both clefs, in the following order:
C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, Gb, C#, Db, G#, Ab, Eb, Bb, F

17. Minor keys Every major key has a relative minor key.
Share a key signature.
Do = the major key.
La = the minor key.

18. How to label major vs. minor keys
Major keys: capital letters, followed by “major” or “maj.”
Minor keys: capital letters, must be followed by “minor,” “min,” or lower-case “m”
If a capital letter is presented alone, assume it is signifying a major key.