NSMA · Acclaimed Musician · Music theory
Acclaimed Musician theory
Recognize major and minor key signatures and their relationships.
Major keys
- Sharp order: F, C, G, D, A, E, B
- Flat order: B, E, A, D, G, C, F
- For sharp keys, the final sharp is one half-step below the major-key tonic.
- For flat keys, the next-to-last flat names the major key, except F major with one flat.
Minor keys
- Every major key shares its signature with a relative minor whose tonic is a minor third lower.
- Natural, harmonic, and melodic minor scales alter the sixth and seventh degrees differently.