[Harp-L] Re: Figuring Sharps in Keys

[Bill Rossoll <billrossoll@xxxxxxxxx>]

First, here is a link depicting the circle of fifths:
http://www.guitaristguitarist.com/images/circle_of_fifths.jpg
It's imperative to learn how to visualize the circle.
Think of the circle as  if it were a clock. C is at 12:00 , G is at 
1:00, D is at 2:00, A is at 3:00 etc.
Since C is at 12:00 (zero hour), it has zero sharps and flats. G is at 
1:00 so it has one sharp. D is at 2:00 so it has two sharps, A is at 
3:00 so it has 3 sharps, etc.
NEXT----- you need to know that any key's sharps always start on F and 
progress in a clockwise fashion. So, since G is at 1:00, it has one 
sharp and that sharp is F. D  is at 2:00 so it has two sharps and they 
are F and C. A is at 3:00 so it has three sharps and they are F, C, G. 
---and so on.

Flats work essentially the same way but they are a mirror image of the 
right side of the clock.
F is at 11:00 (which is the mirror image of 1:00) so it has one flat. Bb 
is at 10:00 (which is the mirror image of 2:00) so it has two flats. Eb 
is at 9:00 (which is the mirror image of 3:00) so it has three flats, etc.
NEXT----you need to know that any key's flats start on Bb and progress 
in a counterclockwise fashion. So,  since  F is the mirror of 1:00, it 
has one flat and that flat is  Bb. Bb is at the mirror of 2:00 so it has 
two flats and those flats are Bb and Eb. Eb is at the mirror of 3:00 so 
it has three flats and they are Bb, Eb and Ab.--- and so on.