Major Scales: Key Signatures

(Determining Key Signatures using the Order of Sharps and Flats)

Major Scales

C Major Scale:

Important: All major scales follow the same pattern of tones and semi- tones.

Remember: Tone – Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone – Tone – Semitone

Writing Major Scales

• There should be 8 notes.• The first note and the last note should be the

same.• Every letter name must appear at least once.• Follow the interval pattern T-T-S-T-T-T-S.• The notes B/C and E/F are one semi-tone apart.• A sharp raises a note by one semi-tone.• A flat lowers a note by one semi-tone.

REMEMBER:

Order of Sharps

F C G D A E BFather Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

Order of Flats

B E A D G C FBattle Ends And Down Goes Charles Father

Key Signatures

• The order of sharps and flats can be used to determine key signatures.

• Use the order of sharps to determine key signatures containing sharps.

• Use the order of flats to determine key signatures containing flats.

How do we know how many sharps of flats to use?

How are sharps and flats placed on the staff?

Figuring out Key Signatures

First, you must remember that the Key of C has NO sharps or flats.

For key signatures with sharps…

- Find the last sharp (farthest to the right).- Move up a semitone and that is the tonic or do. - And as you know…the tonic is the name of the

key signature!

For example….

Let’s try another…

For key signatures with Flats…

- Memorize that the key with one flat is the key of F.

- For all other flat keys, find the second last flat. That flat is the tonic. That is the name of the key signature!

For example…

Let’s try another…

Write the key signature for: A major

Identify the major key signature:

Write the key signature for:Eb Major

Identify the major key:

Write the key signature for:F Major

Identify the major key signature:

Write the key signature for:E Major

Keyboard Theory Homework

-p. 56 – 63 - finish by Friday:

If you have any questions about any music theory concepts so far, please remember to come to music theory clinic Friday morning in Rm. 223!!

If I have requested that you attend, and you haven’t done so yet, please do so!!