4.1.2 Key Signatures

Music Theory

4.1.2 Key Signatures

Learners Can:

• Distinguish the order of accidentals in a key signature.
• Determine key signatures and scale patterns of major and minor keys.
• Practice melodic dictation.

Vocabulary: key signatures, accidentals, sharp, flat

Major & Minor Scales

Major and minor scales consist of a series of pitches in stepwise motion. Some scales contain accidentals.

The group of notes within the scale are related. The accidentals can be written in a key signature. A key is a collection of related pitches.

Key Signatures

A shorthand way to write the accidentals in a key signature.

Key signature tells musicians to raise or lower a specific pitch consistently unless otherwise noted.

Question

Key Signatures: Shorthand

You do not need to rewrite accidentals if they are in the key signature.

Key Signatures: Lines and Spaces

The accidental is written in the key signature on the line or space of the note it is altering.

Sharps OR Flats

Key Signatures will only have sharps OR flats. Never both.

Accidentals Review:

A flat lowers the pitch.A sharp raises the pitch.A natural cancels out a previously notated accidental.

Order of Flats & Sharps

Sharps and flats are added to each key signature in a particular order. Sharps and flats will always be added in this order. Sharps F# C# G# D# A# E# B#. Flats B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭ C♭F♭. Examples. If G♯ is notated, so are F♯ and C♯. If E♯ is notated, so are F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, and A♯. If E♭ is notated, so is B♭. If D♭ is noted, so are B♭, E♭, and A♭.

Order of Sharps

0 sharps = C Major1 sharp = G Major2 sharps - D Major3 sharps - A Major4 sharps - E Major5 sharps - B Major6 sharps - F# Major7 sharps - C# Major

Named one half step above the last sharp in the key signature.

Naming Sharp Keys

• G Major -F#
• D Major - F# C#
• A Major - F# C# G#
• E Major - F# C# G# D#
• B Major - F# C# G# D# A#
• F# Major - F# C# G# D# A# E#
• C# Major - F# C# G# D# A# E# B#

Order of Flats

• 0 flats = C Major
• 1 flat = F Major
• 2 flats = B♭ Major
• 3 flats = E♭ Major
• 4 flats = A♭ Major
• 5 flats = D♭ Major
• 6 flats = G♭ Major
• 7 flats = C♭ Major

Naming Flat Keys

Named after the second to last flat.

F Major - B♭ B♭ Major - B♭E♭ E♭ Major - B♭E♭A♭ A♭ Major - B♭ E♭A♭D♭ D♭ Major - B♭ E♭ A♭D♭G♭ G♭ Major - B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭G♭C♭ C♭ Major - B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭C♭F♭

Determining Key Signature - Tonic

Find the tonic!The tonic is the first scale degree and central pitch within the key. It is typically played at the beginning and end of a melody and emphasized throughout.

Determining Key Signature - Melodic Motion

Melodic motion can help when determining the tonic. Look for movement around and resolution to the tonic pitch (usually the pitch repeated most in the melody).

Determining Key Signature - Major vs. minor

The minor scale can be built using the same 7 notes as a Major scale, just starting and ending on the 6th scale degree instead of the tonic.Because of this, each key signature can reflect both a Major and a minor key.

Determining Key Signature - Accidentals

Accidentals in a key are written in the key signature. If there is an accidental outside of the key, it will be written withing the music. This signifies that the music is in melodic or harmonic minor or that there will soon be a key change.

Determining Key Signature - Modulation

Modulation is the change from one key to another.Accidentals can help to signal that there will be a key change. Key changes are typically accompanied by a change in key signature when the new key is established, if needed.

Music Theory Guy - How to Find Key

Question

Major vs. Minor Example

Question

Melodic Dictation Practice 1

Melodic Dictation Practice 1

Melodic Dictation 1 Answer

Melodic Dictation Practice 2

Melodic Dictation Practice 2

Melodic Dictation 2 Answer

Key Signatures ID Practice

Summary

In today's lesson, you:

• Distinguished the order of accidentals in a key signature.
• Determined key signatures and scale patterns of major and minor keys.
• Practiced melodic dictation.

In a future lesson, you will learn about phrasing.