Now take the 4th note of the major scale whose tonic is E - the E major scale - this is note A (the 3rd word of the phrase). Taking the 1st letter of the 1st word in the phrase - B, the 4th note of the major scale with its name as the tonic - B major scale is note E (the 2nd word of the phrase). order for key signature symbol placement is not accidental, and follows a variation of the Circle of fifths music theory pattern called the Circle of fourths. Then the same for Eb in the second position, and so on for all the words in the phrase. So if the scale contains note Bb, this is always the first flat key signature symbol shown next to the treble or bass clef in the note B staff position(middle line). įor a flat-based key signature (like this scale), the order is easily remembered using the following phrase, whose first letters indicate the note name to be flattened:

The key signature symbols are always shown in the same order, no matter what the order of the actual notes on the staff. The key signature is set of sharps or flats (never mixed) shown after the treble or bass clef on the musical staff. A minor has zero sharps, E minor has 1, etc.This step shows the order in which the symbols of a flat key signature must be placed next to the treble and bass clef. The Cycle of Fifths works for minor keys too. (I don't much worry about a relative major for some region it's three-sharps up but these sharps are not used in the minor. I usually just think of the relative major as being three flats down. Thus for C, the relative minor is A and the relative major for C minor is Eb. The relative minor is a minor third (below the tonic) and the relative major is a minor third above. I don't have any mnemonics for remembering these. Now, one can count the number of fifths up or fourths down from C to get the number of sharps or flats. Running backwards, (C,F,Bb,Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,Cb) 'falling fifths as I think of them, the way many harmonic progressions go.) The flat is added to the seventh note of the starting key (or fourth of the new key). The note getting it is the 7th of the new key (or fourth of the old key), C gets F# to become G, etc.

Starting with C, one goes up (at least I think of it as up) by fifths to G,D,A,E,B,F#,C# (which is far enough) by adding a single sharp to the key signature. It's been 70 or more years since I learned this but this is one way with some side benefits.įirst: know the Circle of Fifths (AKA Circle of Fourths, Cycle of Fifths, Cycle of Fourths, etc).

How many flats are in b flat major