MGW 3-4 [Key Signatures-Circle of Fifths]

Key signature

A sign placed at the beginning of the piece that tells us which pitches should be sharped or flatted

Pitch Hierarchy

A pattern of strong and weak notes where certain notes feel stronger or more stable than others

Circle of Fifths

A circle that helps us to memorize all of the key signatures. Each key is a fifth away. Going to the right adds sharps, going to the left adds flats.

How many sharps or flats?
C Major

0#/0b

How many sharps or flats?
G Major

1#

How many sharps or flats?
D Major

2#

How many sharps or flats?
A Major

3#

How many sharps or flats?
E Major

4#

How many sharps or flats?
B Major

5#

How many sharps or flats?
F# Major

6#

How many sharps or flats?
C# Major

7#

How many sharps or flats?
F Major

1b

How many sharps or flats?
Bb Major

2b

How many sharps or flats?
Eb Major

3b

How many sharps or flats?
Ab Major

4b

How many sharps or flats?
Db Major

5b

How many sharps or flats?
Gb Major

6b

How many sharps or flats?
Cb Major

7b

Trick to identifying sharp keys from key signature

Find the last sharp in the signature, go up a half step

Trick to identifying flat keys from the key signature

1b = F major

2+bs = find the second to last flat and that’s your key