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This answer may appear simple at first, to anyone familiar with the piano keyboard, and the concept of tones and semitones. I've included it all, for anyone who might need it. We'll come to the REAL answers soon enough!
There are many kinds of scales, but let's start with the most common, the major scale. To form a major scale from any note, apply these simple principles:
1. Use each letter-name ONCE, but repeat the first letter name at the end, e.g:
C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
2. This step requires an understanding of the terms "SEMITONE" and " TONE". (If you already understand them, skip this explanation!)
In Western Music, the OCTAVE is divided into twelve equal steps, called SEMITONES. Semitones are the smallest pitch divisions used in most music. On a piano, a semitone can be found between any key and the VERY NEXT KEY, whether white or black! On a guitar, each fret is one semitone! TWO SEMITONES = ONE TONE.
Let's use these abbreviations: Semitone = ST; Tone = T.
Just apply this formula to form any major scale:
"TONIC (first note) - T - T - ST - T - T - T - ST."
SHARP KEYS:
As you can see on a piano, the scale of C major is played on white keys alone! But if you want to build the Scale of G major, for example, you will need the following notes to conform to the above formula:
Formula: TONIC - T - T - ST - T - T - T - ST
Scale: G A B C D E F#* G
*Remember, from E to F is to the VERY NEXT KEY on a piano...there is no black key in between E and F, so E to F is only a semitone! To create a TONE above E, we must go up 2 piano keys, to the black key, F#!
So, for the scale of G major a Key Signature of ONE SHARP (F#) is required.
Similarly, if you begin building a scale on D, you'll need both an F# and a C# in order to create the major scale. To create the scale of A, you'll require F#, C#, G#.
Notice that we ALWAYS add to the sharps we already have! As we add more sharps to the key signature, for other keys, we arrive at the following "order of sharps":
F C G D A E B ("Father Charles Goes Down and Ends Battle.")
Here's a chart of the "sharp" keys, and their key signatures:
KEY KEY SIGNATURE SHARPS
C, 0#: -
G, 1#: F#
D, 2#: F#, C#
A, 3#: F#, C#. G#
E, 4#: F#, C#, G#, D#
B, 5#: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#
F#, 6#: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E# (NB: E# = F)
C#, 7#: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B# (NB: B# = C)
We learned that, for the scale of G major, one sharp is required (F#). Similarly, if you begin building a scale on D, you'll need both an F# and a C# in order to create the major scale. To create the scale of A, you'll require F#, C#, G#.
Notice that we ALWAYS add to the sharps we already have! As we add more sharps to the key signature, for other keys, we arrive at the following "order of sharps":
F C G D A E B ("Father Charles Goes Down and Ends Battle.")
NOTE..It is easy to find the MAJOR KEY of any SHARP Key, by going up one semitone from the last sharp of the Key Signature! (Example in B major, the last sharp was A#, so go up a semitone, to B, to know the major scale it represents!)
FLAT KEYS:
As you can see on a piano, the scale of C major is played on white keys alone! But if you want to build the Scale of F major, for example, you will need the following notes to conform to the above formula:
Formula: TONIC - T - T - ST - T - T - T - ST
Scale: F G A Bb C D E F
*Remember, from A to B is a TONE...there's a black key in between A and B! To create a SEMITONE above A, we must go up 1 piano key, to the black key, Bb!
In key signatures, notice that we ALWAYS add to the flats we already have! As we add more flats to the key signature, for other keys, we arrive at the following "order of flats":
B E A D G C F ("Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles' Father.")
Here's a chart of the "flat" keys, and their key signatures:
KEY SIGNATURE FLATS
C, 0b -
F, 1b: Bb
Bb, 2b: Bb, Eb
Eb, 3b: Bb, Eb, Ab
Ab, 4b: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db
Db,, 5b: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb
Gb, 6b: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb (NB: Cb = B)
Cb, 7b: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb, Fb (NB: Fb = E)
NOTE..It is easy to find the MAJOR KEY of any FLAT Key, by going to the second-last flat of the Key Signature! (Example in the Key Signature is 3 flats [Bb, Eb, Ab] the second last flat was Eb, so Eb is the major scale it represents.)
Notice the "mirror image" quality of sharp and flat key signatures!
Best.
Fredrick Pritchard
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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In the A minor scale what are the sharps?
There are no sharps in the key signature, but in the harmonic minor there is a G#.
How do you play an a flat scale?
You play from the correct Tonic to the octave observing the appropriate flats for that key signature.
How do you determine music major scale?
look for any accidenatls in the scale. If there are no accidentals, then it's a major scale, vise versa. All the sharps and flats should be included in the key signature of the scale.
How do you know what scale it is with so many sharps or flats?
As the composer, it's up to you. Some contemporary composers will not use a key signature, and instead will use accidentals throughout. Otherwise, it's probably easiest to use the key signature that best reflects the overall tonal center of the song.
Why can you not look a a key signature to tell us if a piece is in a minor key?
Each key signature represents two possible keys. Each of the major keys has a relative minor key and vice versa. A key signature with one (F) sharp could either be G major or E minor. If the minor and major scales bear the same key signature, they are called related scales. In this case, G major is the relative of E minor. Here is what you should look for to determine if a piece is in minor: Starting and Ending pitches/chords- pieces and minor usually but not always start and end on do and the tonic (I) chord of the scale Raised seventh scale degree (ti instead of te)- In the harmonic and melodic minor scales the seventh scale degree is raised a half a step (but in melodic minor it has a raised sixth as well on the way ascending, but follows pure minor, descending. To tell if a note is part of the ascending or descending scale look at the following note: if it is higher the note is part of the ascending scale- if it is lower, the note is part of the descending scale.) The raised seventh or sixth never appears on the key signature. Also, bear in mind that the related scales in question are only three notes apart. For example, you know the key signature of G major, but not that of E minor. So you count three notes down, thus, G, F, then E, now you know two things about E minor. One, its key signature id F sharp, and two, it is a relative of G major. To get to the major scale, always count upwards. To get to the minor scale, count downwards. I reckon that might have been a little confusing.
What scale has the same key signature as 3 over 4?
3/4 is a time signature, not a key signature.
How do you recognize a scale by looking at the key signature?
The key signature indicates which notes are sharp, natural, or flat. Every key has a specific signature.
What is the key signature for a D scale?
D major has a key signature of F sharp and C sharp D minor has a key signature of B flat
How do you read key signatures?
Key signatures are the sharps or flats at the beginning of the staff. To identify the key signature of a scale that consists of all sharps, look at the last sharp in the key signature. Whichever note the last sharp lies on, the key of the scale is one note above it. To identify the key signature of a scale that consists of all flats, look at the note directly before the last flat in the key signature. The second-to-last note is the name of the key signature of flat keys. However, you cannot use this helpful trick with the F Major Scale which only has one flat (B flat).
What is the natural scale with a key signature of one flat?
The key signature with one flat is either F major or D minor.
What are the 3 notes in a D minor key signature?
There is not three notes in any scale or key, if you are asking about the accidentals, there is one flat (Bb) in the key signature plus an additional C sharp for the harmonic minor scale.
What does a major scale have in common with its parallel minor scale?
A major scale and its relative minor scale share the same key signature.
What is meant by the Dorian key signature?
A Dorian key signature is an earlier style of key signature used on pieces in minor keys. A good example is J.S. Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 538, that was notated with a key signature of zero flats rather than the one flat of a contemporary key signature notation for D Minor. The Dorian mode is a mode of the major scale built off of the second scale degree of a major scale and, therefore, a Dorian key signature for D Minor would be the signature for the major scale a whole step below: C Major...therefore zero flats. The D Dorian scale is spelled D, E, F, G, A, B, C and therefore shares the same key signature as C Major in this older notational system. It is now customary within the western tonal system to relate minor keys to the key signature of the major key found a minor third above. D Minor is now written with one flat, the key signature of F Major. Today the "natural minor" scale or Aeolian mode (the mode built off the 6th scale degree of major) is the common reference point for a minor key's key signature.
What is in E minor scale?
E Minor Scale has a key signature note of F-Sharp and with a G Major Scale.
What are diatonic key signatures?
Diatonic key signatures result from the diatonic scales. There are 15 diatonic scales and each of them have a key signature which corresponds to each scale. There is a circle of fifths which shows the system on how to come across each and every diatonic key signature and scale.
What is the key signature for Eflat minor scale?
that would be another key on the piano possibly y or q
How many sharps does G major scale have in its key signature?
The G major scale contains 1 sharp: the note F#. The scale of a piece of music is usually indicated by a key signature, a symbol that flattens or sharpens specific lines or spaces on the staff.
