The reading courseLesson 12 of 13 · Level 6
Keys with 3 to 7 sharps or flats
Read every key signature, three to seven sharps or flats, and name its major and minor key.
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The signatures with three to seven sharps and flats, each with its major and minor key.
Sharps always come in the same order, F C G D A E B, and flats in the reverse, B E A D G C F. A signature of four sharps is the first four, F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯, and never any others; so to read it, see how many there are and run the order in your head.
To name the key: with sharps, the major key is the next key up from the last sharp (the last sharp is G♯, so A major). With flats, it is the second-to-last flat (B♭ E♭ A♭: E♭ major); one flat is F major. The minor key with the same signature is three keys below its major, counting the black keys: A major and F♯ minor, E♭ major and C minor.
With many sharps or flats, most notes are black keys. Look for the shape of the hand on the black keys rather than naming every one, and watch for the naturals that undo the signature for a bar.
The guides that go further: Piano scales and the circle of fifths.
Pieces this lesson opens
Pieces in the library that read as ready once you know everything up to this lesson, and didn't before it.
- Pathétique Sonata: IILudwig van Beethovenlevel 6
- Waltz in D flat, Op. 64 No. 1Frédéric Chopinlevel 6
- Rustle of Spring, Op. 32 No. 3Christian Sindinglevel 6