Piano Guidance
Photo by Kindel Media Pexels Logo Photo: Kindel Media

What key is F sharp?

Major Keys Using Sharps Major Key Minor Key 1 G E F# D B F# A F# F# E C# F# 4 more rows

people.carleton.edu - 13-KeySignatures
What if my keyboard does not have a Fn key?
What if my keyboard does not have a Fn key?

What if my keyboard does not have an Fn key? If your computer did not include a keyboard with the Fn key, it has no alternate functions on those...

Read More »
What piano piece should I learn first?
What piano piece should I learn first?

Minuet in G Major is an ideal piece for the aspiring piano player. This piece can be quickly memorized as it has a lot of repetition. Its use of...

Read More »

MUSC 101 Music Fundamentals - Spring 2012

[Overview] [Syllabus]

Key Signatures

Key signatures appear on every line of music immediately to the right of the clef. The time signature appears on the very first line of music and not written again until it is changed. The clef and key signature appear at the beginning of every line of music. The key signature consists of one to seven sharps or flats. Key signatures are either all sharps or all flats, never mixed.

Key Signatures and Scales

Key signatures and scales are closely related. For every major (and relative minor) scale there is a corresponding key signature with exactly the same sharps and flats that appear in the scale. The melodies and chords used in most pieces are based on the notes of a specific major or minor scale and the key signature is used to specify those sharps and flats. The use of key signatures probably came about so that composers would not have to write sharps and flats so often. The sharps and flats that appear in the key signature affect every note of that name in the entire piece, no matter what octave the note appears in.

Here's a melody written without a key signature.

Here's the same melody in the key of E. It's much easier for the composer to write and for performer to read.

Number of Accidentals in Key Signatures

Key signatures use from zero to seven sharps or zero to seven flats. The number of sharps or flats in the key signature correspond precisely to the major or natural minor scale with the same number of sharps or flats in the scale.

Major Keys Using Sharps

The names of the major keys using sharps in the key signature follow the ascending circle of fifths: C G D A E B F# C#. As each new sharp is added to the scale, previously used sharps remain in effect. Key Number of Sharps Key Signature Scale C Major 0 G Major 1 D Major 2 A Major 3 E Major 4 B Major 5 F# Major 6 C# Major 7 As the number of sharps in a key signature increases, previously used sharps remain in effect. Major Key Minor Key Sharps 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Key Signature C A 0 G E 1 F# D B 2 F# C# A F# 3 F# C# G# E C# 4 F# C# G# D# B G# 5 F# C# G# D# A# F# D# 6 F# C# G# D# A# E# C# A# 7 F# C# G# D# A# E# B#

Can I train myself to have perfect pitch?
Can I train myself to have perfect pitch?

A UChicago study trained participants to identify piano notes by sound alone, demonstrating that absolute pitch can be a learned skill. May 28, 2015

Read More »
Is it too late to become good piano?
Is it too late to become good piano?

The good news is, it's never too late to start. If you have a desire to learn to play the piano, here are some tips to help you on your way. Jun...

Read More »

Major Keys Using Flats

The names of major keys using flats in the key signature follow the descending circle of fifths: C F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb. As each new flat is added to the scale, previously used flats remain in effect. Key Number of Flats Key Signature Scale C Major 0 F Major 1 Bb Major 2 Eb Major 3 Ab Major 4 Db Major 5 Gb Major 6 Cb Major 7 As the number of flats in a key signature increases, previously used flats remain in effect.

Minor Keys Using Sharps

Minor keys use the key signature of the relative major key.

The names of minor keys using sharps in the key signature follow the ascending circle of fifths: a e b f# c# g# d# a#. Key Number of Sharps Key Signature Scale A minor 0 E minor 1 B minor 2 F# minor 3 C# minor 4 G# minor 5 D# minor 6 A# minor 7

Minor Keys Using Flats

The names of minor keys using flats in the key signature follow the ascending circle of fifths: a d g c f bb eb Ab. Key Number of Flats Key Signature Scale A minor 0 D minor 1 G minor 2 C minor 3 F minor 4 Bb minor 5 Eb minor 6 Ab minor 7

Major Sharp Keys Rules

The rules for determining major sharp keys are:

1. The key of C major has no sharps or flats.

2. For key signatures having one to seven sharps, the name of the major key is one half step (minor second) higher than the last sharp (the sharp furthest to the right) of the key signature.

Order of Sharps

The order that sharps appear in the key signature follow the clockwise (ascending) circle of fifths beginning with F sharp and continuing to B sharp. Sharps in a key signatures are always drawn on the following staff lines and spaces. Note the diagonal arrangement from top to bottom left to right. They never switch octaves.

What level is Fur Elise grade?
What level is Fur Elise grade?

grade 5 The full version of Fur Elise is considered reasonably difficult, broadly an intermediate piece around grade 5, but a shorter arrangement...

Read More »
What key is A piano tuned to?
What key is A piano tuned to?

A440 Pianos are generally tuned to an A440 pitch standard that was adopted during the early 1900s in response to widely varying standards....

Read More »

Major Flat Keys Rules

The rules for determining major flat keys are:

1. The key of C major has no sharps or flats.

2. The key of F major has one flat.

3. For key signatures having two to seven flats, the name of the major key is the name of the next to the last flat (the flat 2nd from the right) of the key signature.

Order of Flats

The order that flats appear in the key signature follow the descending circle of fifths beginning with B flat and continuing to F flat. Flats in a key signatures are always drawn in a specific order. Note the diagonal arrangement from top to bottom left to right.

Minor Key Rules

To find the name of the minor key signature, first determine the name of the major key signature and then count backwards three scale notes. Sharps and flats present in the key signature affect the key name.

Key Signatures and Scale Degrees

You can also remember key signatures by relating the last (right most) accidental of the key signature to scale degrees.

Sharps

Major - The last sharp is the leading tone of the key.

Minor - The last sharp is the supertonic of the key.

Flats

Major - The last flat is the subdominant of the key.

Minor - The last flat is the submediant of the key.

Relative Major/Minor

Relative keys are major and minor keys that have different names, but share the same key signature. For example, E minor is the relative minor of G major and A flat major is the relative major of F minor.

Parallel Major/Minor

Parallel keys are major and minor keys that have the same name, but use different key signatures. For example, B minor is the parallel minor of B major, and B major is the parallel major of B minor.

[Overview] [Syllabus]

Revised by John Ellinger, Spring 2012.

people.carleton.edu - 13-KeySignatures
Can you rekey by yourself?
Can you rekey by yourself?

When you rekey a lock by yourself, you will need to purchase a rekey kit that is specific to your brand of doorknob, lever, or deadbolt. Rekey kits...

Read More »
How long does it take to get to Grade 3 piano?
How long does it take to get to Grade 3 piano?

TQT and GLH Grade TQT 3 50 hours 4 58 hours 5 90 hours 6 130 hours 4 more rows • May 25, 2020

Read More »
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »
What 4 chords are in every song?
What 4 chords are in every song?

The famous four chords used in many pop song progressions are the I, V, vi and IV chords of a major key. The roman numerals represent the numbers...

Read More »
What age is too late for piano?
What age is too late for piano?

People can start piano at 60, at 70, at 80, even later. Your brain can still form new connections at any age. You can always learn new skills. For...

Read More »