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Scales, Keys, and Key Signatures

Page history last edited by djameson@... 14 years, 9 months ago

Scales in Many Keys

It is necessary to use accidentals to raise or lower notes by a half step in order to create Major scales in keys other than C Major. For instance if we build a D Major scale, we must raise the F to an F# and the C to a C# in order to preserve the pattern of whole steps and half steps:

 

 D Major scale.aiff

 

Likewise, to create an F major scale, we must lower the B to a Bb to preserve the whole step and half step pattern:

 

 F Major scale.aiff

 

Note: When forming scales, E to F and B to C are separated by a half step; other notes without an added sharp or flat are separated by a whole step.

 

Key signatures

Instead of placing sharps and flats in front of every note that requires them in a piece, what is often done is to write a key signature at the beginning of each line of music. A key signature is shorthand notation of what notes are raised or lowered in any given key:

 

 Key signature.aiff

 

Key signatures make music easier to read for performers, make analysis simpler, and also reduces clutter from the page. Key signatures can be used to define the alterations of any Major scale:

 

 

Sharps and flats are placed in a specific order on the staff when building key signatures. Sharps are ordered as follows: F#C#G#D#A#E#B#. For instance, if a key has two sharps, they would be F# and C#; if a key has four sharps, they would be F#, C#, G#, and D#. Sharps are placed on the staff diagonally and in a descending zig zag pattern:

 

 

Flats are ordered in the opposite direction: BbEbAbDbGbCbFb. Flats are arranged in an ascending zig zag pattern:

 

 

A few ways to remember the order of sharps and flats:

Fat Cats Go Down Alleys Eating Birds

BEAD G C F

BE A Do Gooder: Cook Free Range

 

How do I remember all this stuff?

 

All of the Major scales and their key signatures can be derived from the Circle of 5ths. All you need to remember is to create a circle with twelve divisions (like a clock), and label the top as C Major:

 

1. Label each place on the clock. When moving clockwise, count up five notes from the previous key, including the note you start on. For instance, after C Major count C-D-E-F-G. The next key is G Major.

 

2. When moving counterclockwise, count back five notes, including the note you start from. For instance, before C Major is C-B-A-G-F. The key before C Major is F Major. Note: The key that is a fifth below F Major is Bb Major, not B Major.

 

3. Starting from C Major, which has no sharps or flats, add a sharp each time you move clockwise to a different key. Add a flat each time you move counterclockwise to a different key. You now have every major key and its key signature:

 

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