1. Key Signatures (Simplified)

2. Scales If you read through Understanding Scales then you know that our Western two scales Major and Minor are built off the Harmonic Sequence 3. Letter Names Because of the original 7 degrees of the scale we assign the first notes of that scale letter names A, B, C, D, E, F, G The half steps in between are designated with a # (sharp) for the note above or a (flat) for the note below 4. 12 Keys This also means that some keys can have two names (the key of G# is the same as A ) To simplify things, we will focus on the 12 possible keys (not their enharmonic equivalents) A B C D E F G A B D E F# (or G ) 5. Memorize these Two Keys C Major (no sharps or flats) F Major (one flat B ) 6. Two Tricks All other key signatures can be determined by two simple rules Rule for Sharps: It's the note above the last sharp of the key signature. Rule for Flats: It's the second to last flat This is assuming the piece is Major, we'll worry about Minor later. 7. Using the Rules The last sharp in the key signature is the second line from the top in Treble Clef that is a D Therefore the key signature is the note above D E Major 8. Using the Rules The second to last flat is on the second space from the bottom in the Treble Clef that is an A Therefore the key signature is A 9. All Keys No Sharps or Flats You memorized this C Major Relative Minor: A minor 10. All Keys One Sharp F# G Major Relative Minor: E minor 11. All Keys Two Sharps Last is C# D Major Relative Minor: B minor 12. All Keys Three Sharps Last is G# A Major Relative Minor: F# minor 13. All Keys Four Sharps Last is D# E Major Relative Minor: C# minor 14. All Keys Five Sharps Last is A# B Major Relative Minor: G# minor 15. All Keys 6 Sharps Last is E# F# Major 6 Flats Second to last G Major Relative Minor: D# minor or E minor 16. All Keys Five Flats Second to last D Major Relative Minor: B minor 17. All Keys Four Flats Second to last A Major Relative Minor: F minor 18. All Keys Three Flats Second to last E Major Relative Minor: C minor 19. All Keys One Flats You memorized F Major Relative Minor: D minor 20. Bonus Slide Here's what happens if we diagram these keys out it's called the Circle of Fifths