Theory Thoughts
Now that you've learned several major scales and their relative minor scales, take a look at
The Circle of 5ths:
The Circle of 5ths:
The circle of 5ths was originally drawn to be a composer's tool. Each wedge is a perfect 5th away from the wedges on either side. Each wedge shows a major key (outer circle) paired with it's relative minor (inner circle). Looking a little familiar?
Start at C and go left and you'll notice that each key adds a flat. Also notice that any flats present in the previous key continue to be present until you get to B. (Start at C and go right and you'll see the same thing but with sharps.) Cool things about flats The order that flats are added is BEADGCF; easy to remember if you think "BEAD" and Greatest Common Factor. If I say a key has 3 flats, you just think through the order of flats and say the first three BEADGCF ("B flat, E flat, A flat"). Want to know what key (or scale) has those three flats? Simply identify the second-to-last flat. Say it, "E flat," and you said the key you're in, the key of E flat. Try it with five flats: what are the flats, and what key is it? Check yourself on the circle --> |
Cool things about sharps
The order that sharps are added is exactly backwards from the order of flats: FCGDAEB.
If I say a key has two sharps, you think through the order of sharps and say the first two FCGDAEB ("F sharp and C sharp"). Want to know what key has those two sharps? Determine the last sharp in the key (C sharp in this case) then visualize that piano key. Now, mentally move up one half step. What piano key are you on? That's the key name. So when C sharp is the last sharp, the key is D. Try it with four sharps. What are the sharps, and what key is it?
Bonus activity: How many times can you find BEADGCF on that circle of 5ths?
The order that sharps are added is exactly backwards from the order of flats: FCGDAEB.
If I say a key has two sharps, you think through the order of sharps and say the first two FCGDAEB ("F sharp and C sharp"). Want to know what key has those two sharps? Determine the last sharp in the key (C sharp in this case) then visualize that piano key. Now, mentally move up one half step. What piano key are you on? That's the key name. So when C sharp is the last sharp, the key is D. Try it with four sharps. What are the sharps, and what key is it?
Bonus activity: How many times can you find BEADGCF on that circle of 5ths?