Key Signatures - Order of Sharps and Flats

Key Signatures

What you REALLY need to know!

Poll

How well could you explain a key signature to someone else?

• I know EVERYTHING there is to know! I'm a champion.

• I could probably get someone else to understand what I'm talking about.

• Not as much as I should know.

• I don't know anything! TEACH ME!!!

Well, what is a key signature?

... and where does it go? ... and what does it do?!

(I have so many questions...)

Key Signature

• a collection of every accidental found in a scale

• (Remember that the accidentals are the sharps, flats, and naturals used to change a pitch.)

Example 1

To demonstrate this, we are going to use the Key of Bb with the treble clef.

Hmm...

So instead of writing a flat sign next to every B and E, we can simply add it to the key signature, which comes immediately after the clef sign.

Example 2

Here is another example in bass clef.  The notes of the Db Major scale is written out with accidentals... 

It's so much easier...

... to write the scale using a key signature!

The Order of Flats

As you may have noticed, the letters in a key signature are in a very particular order.

B, E, A, D, G, C, F

This is called the Order of FLATS 

Mnemonic Device 

Here is a sentence that can help you remember which FLATS can be added to the key signature first.

Open Ended

Come up with a mnemonic device that could help you remember the order of FLATS? (B, E, A, D, G, C, F)

Let's answer a few questions!

What do you remember?

Multiple Choice

If I am going to add a flat to the key signature, which flat has to be first?

• G

• A

• E

• B

• D

Multiple Choice

Which is the fourth flat that can be added in a FLAT key signature?

• A

• C

• F

• D

• E

Multiple Choice

Which is the LAST flat I can add in the order of FLATS?

• D

• F

• A

• C

Multiple Choice

Which is the correct Order of Flats?

• B, E, A, D, G, C, F

• B, E, D, A, G, C, F

• B, E, A, G, D, F, C

• B, E, G, D, E, F, A

The Order of Sharps

# <---- this ain't a hashtag

Just like the order of flats, the order sharps has a specific order as well!

F, C, G, D, A, E, B

The Order of Sharps 

Open Ended

Write your own mnemonic device for the order of sharps

(F, C, G, D, A, E, B):

Multiple Choice

The third sharp in the order of sharps is which?

• G

• F

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

Which is the fifth sharp in the Order of Sharps?

• F

• B

• A

• C

Multiple Choice

Which is the correct order of sharps?

• F, G, C, D, E, A, B

• F, D, C, E, A, D, B

• F, C, G, D, A, E, B

• F, C, C, E, D, E, B

Open Ended

What did you notice about the Order of Sharps vs. the Order of Flats?

Multiple Select

Which flats are present on THIS staff?

• B

• E

• A

• D

• G

Multiple Choice

Which flats are present on THIS staff?

• F, C, G, D, A

• B, E, D, G, C

• B, E, A, D, G

• F, C, G, A, D

Multiple Select

Which sharps are present in THIS staff?

• C

• F

• G

• E

• D

Multiple Select

Which sharps are present in THIS staff?

• A

• D

• G

• C

• F

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of a key signature?

• To make music reading easier

• To make life harder