Re: [Harp-L] Figuring Sharps in Keys

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

have you seen the circle of fifths, where C is at the top in the 12 O'clock position, with the counterclockwise side running F at 11 o'clock, followed by keys with "flat" after the letter name, and with the clockwise side runes G (in one o'clock position)?

You can see a version of it at the harp-l googlegroups site:

http://harp-l.googlegroups.com/web/circleof5ths.gif?gda=zoDLRkIAAAATXzm2BDLUGJwk6Cy9l6GlvrHHbZ3quGARaA-mnto5lxG8tChgHvy7aQXU94rrYWZV4u3aa4iAIyYQIqbG9naPgh6o8ccLBvP6Chud5KMzIQ

That's your key to figuring out which keys have sharps or flats.

One important thing to note: Major scales, and most minor scales, will either have all sharps or all flats, never both.

Another important thing: Any major scale will use all 7 letter names, and use each letter only once. For instance, it would make no sense for C Major to go C, D, E, E#, G, A Cb instead of C, D, E, F, G, A B.

Now, look again at the circle of fifths.

The keys clockwise of C use all sharps.

The keys counterclockwise of C use all flats.

The first clockwise key uses only one sharp. The second clockwise key uses two sharps, and so on.

The first counter-clockwise key uses only one flat, while the second counter-clockwise key uses two flats, and so on.

So which sharps or flats does each key use?

As you go clockwise, each new key uses the sharps that came before, and adds one more. 
The first sharp is F#, which replaces F in the key of G. 
In the key of D, you add C# (so now you have F# and C#)
In the key of A, you add G# (so now you have F#, C#, and G#.)

Notice a pattern in the sharps? F#, C#, and G# follow the circle of fifths.

Knowing that, what sharp would you add to the key of E? How about the key of B? How about F#?

Flat keys start with F, which has a Bb instead of a B.
The next flat key is Bb, which has Bb and Eb.
The third flat key is Eb, which has Bb, Eb, and Ab.

So, do Bb, Eb, and Ab follow the circle of fifths? (be sure to look both cllockwise and counter-clockwise) If so, which flat will we add to the key of Ab? What about Db? What about Gb?

Now you may have noticed that the circle of fiths I linked to has an outer band of letters with "m" after the letter. These are relative minors.

For instance, C has "Am" printed above it. You can use the notes of the C major scale to make an A minor scale. Minor scales come in at least three flavors, and this one is called the natural minor scale. (Tech stuff: You can get the harmonica minor scale by raising the 7th degree of the scale, or get the melodic minor by raising both the 6th and 7th degrees, but only when the melody is heading up. However, you don't add these notes to the key signature. You just alter them wherever they occur with "accidentals" -  temporary sharps or flats or naturals that apply only in the bar where they occur).

Hope this helps.

Winslow


Winslow Yerxa

Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5

--- On Mon, 10/5/09, Geoff Barrett <gbarrett5@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: Geoff Barrett <gbarrett5@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Figuring Sharps in Keys
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Monday, October 5, 2009, 9:27 AM

I am having trouble trying to understand how one decides how and which notes have sharps in any particular scale.  For instance I realize the 'C' has no sharps but A has a number but how to figure out which note is sharp and how one gets there is what I am stumped with.

Any help would be a great help in understanding the methodology.

Geoff
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