Order of Flats

Flats always appear in the same order.  If there is 1 flat in the key it will always be Bb.  If there are 6 flats in the key they will always appear in this order: Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb.

Here is a mnemonic device to help you remember the order of flats

BEAD Greatest Common Factor


Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb Fb

Order of Sharps

Sharps always appear in the same order.  If there is only 1 sharp it will always be F#.  If there are 4 sharps they will always appear in this order: F# C# G# D#.

Here is a mnemonic device to help you remember the order of sharps.

Fat                  F#
Cats                C#
Go                  G#
Down              D#

Alleys              A#

Eating             E#
Birds               B#

Finding Flat Keys When Given the Number of Flats

1. Go through the order of flats until you come to the 2nd to last flat in the key signature

EXAMPLE                                                                                             
Given 6 flats
1. Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb.  The 2nd to last flat here is Gb.  So, the name of the key is Gb Major

Finding Flat Key Signatures When Given the Name of the Key

1. Go through the order of flats until you get one beyond the name of the key

EXAMPLE                                                                                              
Given Db Major
1. Bb Eb Ab Db Gb
2. Db Major has 5 flats.  They are Bb Eb Ab Db Gb

Finding Sharp Keys When Given the Number of Sharps

1. Go through the order of sharps until you get to the last sharp in the key signature
2. Go up 1/2 step from the last sharp in the key signature

EXAMPLE                                                                                        
Given 5 sharps in the key signature

1. F# C# G# D# A#
2. Up 1/2 step = B
3. The key that has 5 sharps is B Major

Finding Sharp Key Signatures When Given the Name of the Key

1. Go down 1/2 step from the name of the key
2. Go through the order of sharps until you reach that pitch
3. That is the number of sharps found in that key

EXAMPLE                                                                                              
 Given A Major
1. Go down 1/2 step from A = G#
2. Go through the order of sharps until you reach G#: F# C# G#
3. A Major has 3 sharps.  They are: F# C# G#

Time Signatures

HERE is a worksheet that shows you what the top and bottom numbers found in time signatures mean.  You can also get some practice with time signatures by answering the questions :)

Email your answers to me!

(please put "Time Signatures" in the subject line of your email)

Enharmonic Spelling

In music, two notes that sound the same but are spelled differently are called enharmonic notes.

For example:

F# sounds the same as G♭ 
C# sounds the same as D♭
G# sounds the same as A♭
D# sounds the same as E♭
A# sounds the same as B♭
E# sounds the same as F
B# sounds the same as C

So, if you look closely at the Circle of Fifths, you will see that some key signatures overlap.  This is because enharmonically they sound the same :)

Circle of Fifths

Click HERE to see the Circle of Fifths :)

The Circle of Fifths is a tool that helps you determine the key signature (number of sharps or flats) of the different keys.

For example, using the Circle of Fifths you can see that the key of A Major has 3 sharps in it.