the key to memorizing keys

[guitardmb]

I am taking a music theory class now, and It is very hard for me to remember all of the keys and corresponding number of sharps or flats. I know how to figure out the key when im given the number of sharps or flats, but is there a trick to finding the number of sharps or flats from just the key name, or do i just have to memorize it?

Another question that would answer my initial question, is is there an easy way to remember the order of the circle of fifths?

[matonfan101]

Thats the most annoying part of theory (well it all is), I think you pretty much have to memorise it, I never learnt any special way apart from the circle of fifths. So sorry, I can't help you but I'de be interested to hear if there is an easier way from anyody else.

I just thought, you could make it half as easy just by remembering the corresponding major and minor keys (?)

[a1075dd63aa12]

if you know what minors correspond with which major, you can kind of cut the process in half

for instance, the two "perfect scales" (no flats or sharps), just to illustrate simply

C Major Scale
C D E F G A B C

A Minor Scale
A B C D E F G A

*notice they contain the same notes*
the sixth spot in the major scale counting the tonic tells you the corresponding minor key. The third spot in the minor key tells you the major key.

now compare that to another key

G# Major Scale
G# Bb C C# D# F G G#

F Minor Scale
F G G# Bb C C# D# F

so basically there is still memorization involved, but if you know that the minor key relative to the C Major scale is A Minor, and you know what notes are in the key of C Major, you automatically know they are the same in the key of A Minor. It just sort of cuts the work in half. If you know the major scales, you can easily count up 6 know, that is the minor key, and know those two keys have the same notes or vice versa but with the 3rd if you know the minor scales.

i hope that made some sense, thats what i try to do, i think i kind of tend to do everything ass backwards but that works for me.

[a1075dd63aa12]

double

[guitardmb]

Well i knew that about the relative minor and major keys. But my main problem is making the connection that Gb major has 6 flats, or Ab has 4, Bb 2, F# 3 sharps etc. I already have the order of sharps and flats memorized. So finding some way to remember the number of flats or sharps for each major key is what i really need. Right now i just have flash card, but they arent helping that much. Thanks for your help though!

[sunglassesatnight]

There's not a lot of way around it. You could plot the scale if you got in a pinch, but that's impractical. This is another reason it's good to learn to read sheet music. There's the key right out there for you, telling you exactly what pitches are sharp/flat.

Best of luck, you can do it. It just takes some time. Circle of Fifths is your friend.

[Pickles]

For flats, remember BEADGCF (i know its nerdy, but i remembered bead greatest common factor).

It's the circle of fifths, but without the circle. Then, if you want the number of flats in, say, the key of F, start at C, and then, since F is the first one over, F has 1 flat, and it's the first letter on the line, a B.

If you have to go back to the beginning of the line from the C, then the key is flat. The BEADG are all flats. If you wanted the flats in Ab, start at C, go around, see that it has 4 flats. Then go to the first 4 letters in the line, BEAD.

Sharps are the opposite. Turn the line around. FCGDAEB. The only sharp key there is F# because youd have to go to the beginning of the line starting at C.

So, if you wanted the key of B, C is 0, G is 1, D is 2, A is 3, E is 4, B is 5. Then, take the first 5 letters on the line - FCGDA - those are your sharp notes in the key of B.

Another thing i remembered was that the number of sharps or flats add up to 7... Think of it this way -

Emaj - 4#'s. + Ebmaj - 3b's

Anyway, there's my input. Hope it helps.

[guitardmb]

For flats, remember BEADGCF (i know its nerdy, but i remembered bead greatest common factor).

It's the circle of fifths, but without the circle. Then, if you want the number of flats in, say, the key of F, start at C, and then, since F is the first one over, F has 1 flat, and it's the first letter on the line, a B.

If you have to go back to the beginning of the line from the C, then the key is flat. The BEADG are all flats. If you wanted the flats in Ab, start at C, go around, see that it has 4 flats. Then go to the first 4 letters in the line, BEAD.

Sharps are the opposite. Turn the line around. FCGDAEB. The only sharp key there is F# because youd have to go to the beginning of the line starting at C.

So, if you wanted the key of B, C is 0, G is 1, D is 2, A is 3, E is 4, B is 5. Then, take the first 5 letters on the line - FCGDA - those are your sharp notes in the key of B.

Another thing i remembered was that the number of sharps or flats add up to 7... Think of it this way -

Emaj - 4#'s. + Ebmaj - 3b's

Anyway, there's my input. Hope it helps.

Some of that actually did help a little. Thanks!

[JAHerche]

I took a theory class last semester. For sharps we used Fay Can Get Drunk At Every Bar. Theory is intersting stuff but it always seems the way they teach it is better suited to piano, probally as it should be though.

[You_Enjoy_Myself]

The way I used to remember the order of flats and sharps was I'd remember Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle for the sharps, and reverse it for the flats.

Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles' Father.

[sunglassesatnight]

The way I used to remember the order of flats and sharps was I'd remember Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle for the sharps, and reverse it for the flats.

Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles' Father.

That's for key signatures, to clarify. Not for the circle of fifths.

[Cor]

for the order of the sharps I just said

Carl
Gave
Dave
Another
Elephant
But
F#orgot
C#rayons

Weird I know..

[gumbomadness]

For flats, remember BEADGCF (i know its nerdy, but i remembered bead greatest common factor).

It's the circle of fifths, but without the circle. Then, if you want the number of flats in, say, the key of F, start at C, and then, since F is the first one over, F has 1 flat, and it's the first letter on the line, a B.

If you have to go back to the beginning of the line from the C, then the key is flat. The BEADG are all flats. If you wanted the flats in Ab, start at C, go around, see that it has 4 flats. Then go to the first 4 letters in the line, BEAD.

Sharps are the opposite. Turn the line around. FCGDAEB. The only sharp key there is F# because youd have to go to the beginning of the line starting at C.

So, if you wanted the key of B, C is 0, G is 1, D is 2, A is 3, E is 4, B is 5. Then, take the first 5 letters on the line - FCGDA - those are your sharp notes in the key of B.

Another thing i remembered was that the number of sharps or flats add up to 7... Think of it this way -

Emaj - 4#'s. + Ebmaj - 3b's = 7

Anyway, there's my input. Hope it helps.

Some of that actually did help a little. Thanks!

i thought thats how everyone does it. lol. im taking theory right now as well. i love contrapunctal harmonies and 4 part writing and all that nonsense. its so much fun.

i

[Machtimus]

I memorized flats as BEAD Greatest Common Factor and sharps as Fat Cats Get Down And Even Boogy.

[sunglassesatnight]

In the key signatures I use "Fat Championship Golfers Don't Always Eat Bacon," and "Big Egoed Athletes Do Get Free Cars."