Piano Guidance
Photo by Oziel Gómez Pexels Logo Photo: Oziel Gómez

What are the 3 sharps in piano?

The key of A major contains 3 sharps. Those sharps would be F#, C#, and G#. A major is spelled: A, B, C#, D, E, F#, and G#.

What is a fair price for guitar lessons?
What is a fair price for guitar lessons?

Guitar Lesson Prices The average cost of guitar lessons ranges from $40 to $60 per hour. Local private lessons start at $30 for a half-hour lesson,...

Read More »
What type of piano is used for jazz?
What type of piano is used for jazz?

A really good piano should be capable of allowing the pianist to play any kind of music. I've heard jazz on Yamahas, Steinways, Baldwins, and...

Read More »

What is the Order of Sharps and the Order of Flats?

In the lesson about the major keys on the circle of 5ths you learned every key has a unique number of flats or sharps. The flats and sharps from key to key are not random . The flats and sharps of each key follow a specific, unchanging order that you need to memorize. This order is called the order of flats and the order of sharps. Once you have memorized how many sharps or flats are in each key in combination with the order of sharps and flats, you will be able to spell the notes of each key. Since you're always playing in some key, knowing your keys in this manner will always be of great benefit.

The Order of Flats

The order of flats is a sequence of seven flat note names. This order tells you which notes are flat in a key containing flats. If a key has one flat, it only contains the first flat from the order of flats — Bb. If the key has two flats, it uses the first two flats from the order of flats — Bb and Eb. A key with 5 flats would contain the first 5 flats from the order — Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, and Gb.

With that bit of information you can spell any key containing flats...

The key of F has 1 flat. That means the flat must be the first flat (Bb). All the other letter names are natural notes. Now, starting on the root of the scale F, we can spell the key of F major — F, G, A, Bb, C, D, and E. As another example, the key of Ab major contains 4 flats. It would use the first 4 flats of the order of flats — Bb, Eb, Ab, and Db. Starting on the root Ab, the key of Ab major is spelled Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, and G. It contains those 4 flats and the rest of the notes are natural.

The Order of Sharps

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th The order of sharps: F# C# G# D# A# E# B#

The order of sharps works the same way as the flat order...

The key of G major contains 1 sharp. It has to be the first sharp — F#. Starting on G we can spell the G major scale: G, A, B, C, D, E, and F#.

Is piano hardest to play?
Is piano hardest to play?

The piano is one of the most difficult and rewarding instruments to learn; not only do you have to learn to read notes and translate them to the...

Read More »
Whats it like being a music teacher?
Whats it like being a music teacher?

As a music teacher, you will guide your students through musical practice, giving them a chance to use musical instruments and their own voices and...

Read More »

The key of A major contains 3 sharps. Those sharps would be F#, C#, and G#. A major is spelled: A, B, C#, D, E, F#, and G#.

Memorizing the Order of Flats and Sharps

All you need to remember is the order of flats as the word BEAD plus three letters GCF. The order of sharps is the same, but reversed — FCG DAEB. If you've memorized the notes on the circle of 5ths and 4ths, you will notice flats go in 4ths starting on B and sharps go in 5ths starting on F. Sometimes people like to make sentences to remember the notes. The classic memory aid works both directions: B attle E nds A nd D own G oes C harles’ F ather (order of flats) F ather C harles G oes D own A nd E nds B attle (order of sharps)

Key Signatures Use the Order of Flats and Sharps

If you look at the circle of 5ths diagram, I have included all fifteen key signatures used in music notation. You will notice the flats and sharps of the key signature are written in the order of flats and sharps. Students are often confused about why we need these note names like Cb, Fb, E#, and B#. Isn't Cb the same as B? And, Fb the same as E?! There is a reason for these "funny" note names. When we spell scales, we can't skip letters and we want to avoid having two letters such as a B and a Bb in the same scale. That would cause trouble with reading music and just be confusing. For instance, the key of Gb major could be improperly spelled Gb, Ab, Bb, B, Db, Eb, and F. Notice there are then two B notes and no C. Properly spelled it is Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, and F. You also can't mix sharps and flats in a key spelling. It's always one or the other.

What is the fear of death called?
What is the fear of death called?

Thanatophobia is an extreme fear of death or the dying process. You might be scared of your own death or the death of a loved one. Psychotherapy...

Read More »
Can you be a natural at piano?
Can you be a natural at piano?

What is natural piano playing? The sort of improvisation that can be done in any style is sometimes referred to as 'natural' piano playing. Many...

Read More »
Are pianists good lovers?
Are pianists good lovers?

In short, the answer is "not really". There just isn't a real correlation between the level of pleasure in mating and a pianist's skill. Jan 8, 2014

Read More »
Who is the most famous blues performer?
Who is the most famous blues performer?

The Most Famous Blues Singers of all Time Robert Johnson (1911) ... Howlin' Wolf (1910) ... Muddy Waters. ... Ma Rainey (1886) ... Sister Rosetta...

Read More »