Circle of Fifths, Order of Sharps/Flats

Order of sharps:

F C G D A E B

Fat Cops Get Donuts At Eddie’s Bakery

Order of flats:

B E A D G C F

Big Evil Aliens Destroy Grant Cole’s Family

The order of sharps/flats explains the order in which sharps/flats appear in the key signature. For example, the key of D major has two sharps: F# and C#. F# comes first because it is first in the order and C# comes next. A major, the next in the circle of fifths, has F#, C#, and G#.

CIRCLE OF FIFTHS

The Circle of Fifths is used to find the different major/minor keys based on the number of sharps/flats in the key signatures. Use a keyboard to find the different names of the keys. This is where you count to five. Order of keyboard: BCDEFGA. When you find the notes that are sharps, you have to count them as such. Also, you have to count the note you start on.

• C Major

  -All naturals

• G Major

  -F#

• D Major

  -F#, C#

• A Major

  -F#, C#, G#

• E Major

  -F#, C#, G#, D#

• B or Cb Major '

  -F#, C#, G#, D#, A#

  -Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb, Fb

• F# or Gb Major

  -F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#

  -Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb

• Db or C# Major

  -F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#

  -Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb

• Ab Major

  -Bb, Eb, Ab, Db

• Eb Major

  -Bb, Eb, Ab

• Bb Major

  -Bb, Eb

• F Major

  -Bb