If you're looking at a piece of music and you need to know what key you're in, this table should help.

 Table of Keys Sharps and Flats

Key of No. of Sharps Notes involved C 0               G 1 F#             D 2 F# C#           A 3 F# C# G#         E 4 F# C# G# D#       B 5 F# C# G# D# A#     F# 6 F# C# G# D# A# E#   C# 7 F# C# G# D# A# E# B#

Key of No. of Flats Notes involved C 0               F 1 Bb             Bb 2 Bb Eb           Eb 3 Bb Eb Ab         Ab 4 Bb Eb Ab Db       Db 5 Bb Eb Ab Db Gb     Gb 6 Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb   Cb 7 Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb Fb

Gman,

As a possible addendum to your tip 194 -- determining the key signature of a piece of music....

An easy way to determine the key signature of a song with sharps or flats is to use a 'mnemonic', i.e., a phrase that helps jog your memory.


-- As you start with one sharp, and add one sharp at a time....

"Good Deeds Are Excellent But Few"


-- As you start with one flat, and add one flat at a time...

"Fat Boys Eat Apple Dumplings Greedily"


I learned those from my band director in high school (which was about the time that cavemen beat on hollowed-out tree trunks with sabre cat tiger bones).

By the way, I enjoy your guitar tips and use quite a few of them.

Sincerely,

Mark M.
Maple Valley, WA

 

Also see my Tip 196 on the subject.  Bob, Gman ( o )==#