As promised, for your viewing pleasure – here they are:
Sharp Keys:
| G(1): | G | A | B | C | D | E | F# | G |
| D(2): | D | E | F# | G | A | B | C# | D |
| A(3): | A | B | C# | D | E | F# | G# | A |
| E(4): | E | F# | G# | A | B | C# | D# | E |
| B(5): | B | C# | D# | E | F# | G# | A# | B |
| F#(6): | F# | G# | A# | B | C# | D# | E# | F# |
| C#(7): | C# | D# | E# | F# | G# | A# | B# | C# |
| G#(8): | G# | A# | B# | C# | D# | E# | F## | G# |
| D#(9): | D# | E# | F## | G# | A# | B# | C## | D# |
| A#(10): | A# | B# | C## | D# | E# | F## | G## | A# |
Flat Keys:
| F(1): | F | G | A | Bb | C | D | E | F |
| Bb(2): | Bb | C | D | Eb | F | G | A | Bb |
| Eb(3): | Eb | F | G | Ab | Bb | C | D | Eb |
| Ab(4): | Ab | Bb | C | Db | Eb | F | G | Ab |
| Db(5): | Db | Eb | F | Gb | Ab | Bb | C | Db |
| Gb(6): | Gb | Ab | Bb | Cb | Db | Eb | F | Gb |
A couple of points here:
These are arranged from most common to least – so I would focus only on the first four or five keys in each category. Yes, I did even include the somewhat esoteric keys that have either double sharps and/or E#, B# and Cb. Please, do not be concerned with those for now – they are rare, but they are correct and are a part of accepted music theory. To me these are no more difficult to understand than any other key, since they are derived using the exact same process: write out the keys in alpha names, then use # or b to adjust the half / whole spaces to fit the diatonic scale pattern. The bottom three keys in the Sharp category require the use of double sharps (##) to accomplish this, while the key of Gb necessitates using a Cb note to adjust in the flat category. No worries, we’ll discuss those in depth later on.
This is important: please note that sharps and flats are always in the same order – i.e. the key of G has one sharp (F#), the key of D has two sharps (F#, C#) the key of A has (3) sharps (F#, C#, G#), and so on. If a key has one sharp, that sharp will be F# (key of G) There is no such thing as a key with one sharp that has a different sharp other than F#. So, if someone says “I’m playing in a key that has one sharp, what key am I in?” You know the answer is G, and the one sharp in that key is F# – there is no other answer possible. Likewise, if a key has two sharps, they are F# and C# – no such thing as a key with two sharps other than those – so you are in the key of D. Remember the order of Sharps and Flats:
Sharps: F# C# G# D# A# E# B#
Flats: Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb Fb
From most common to least common: keys with the least sharps and flats – therefore, since the key of C has none, it is the most common key. The key of G would be the most common sharp key, while the key of F would be the most common flat key. Then down the chart from there, D being the next most common sharp key, while Bb the next most common flat key. And so on.
Why didn’t I just print this chart from the beginning? Why put you through the agony of teaching you the tools to figure it out yourself?
Well, because that’s life – some things are better taught (and memorized). When you were a child, you were given tools to learn to speak and write – you had to memorize the alphabet, the meaning and spelling of words, grammar, etc. For math you practiced with flash cards, memorized your multiplication tables, etc. Giving you a chart to start with would be like giving a child a dictionary and expecting him to learn to read and write from it. I see these chord books “One Thousand Chords For The Guitar“, and laugh – they are like passing out dictionaries – when I can easily play many more than a thousand chords on guitar and have never owned or studied one of those books – and you will too – with the right tools. You will understand why – which will free your mind to create your own chords, anywhere on the neck – that’s where we will be going soon – and you’re gonna love it.
In summary, here is what you should know up to this point:
- What is a note?
- What is pitch?
- What is rhythm?
- What is the smallest interval in music?
- How many half-steps are there in a whole-step?
- What is a Chromatic scale? How big are the intervals between notes in a Chromatic scale? How many notes are there in a Chromatic octave?
- What is a Diatonic scale? How many notes are in a diatonic scale (octave)?
- What is the pattern of spaces (half-steps and whole-steps) in a diatonic scale?
- What is a sharp? How many half-steps does a sharp raise a note?
- What is a flat? How many half-steps does a flat lower a note?
- How many sharps or flats are in the key of C?
- Are there some keys that have both sharps and flats?
- What are the only two natural half-step intervals in music? (half-steps with no # or b between)
- What is the order of flats: ?
- What is the order of sharps: ? (hint, backwards of flats)
The answers to all of these questions are available in the blogs up to this point – use the Archives to look up if necessary – or I am building a Music Terms / Definitions page that should give most of the answers – I’ll be adding on to that page as we go.
I would love to help you on any of the above questions that you may be struggling with – or brag if you got them all correct!
That’s it for Diatonic major scales guys. We are going to move forward with chords – and as you will see, having these diatonic major scale concepts are going to be your best friend. Like scales, chords have structures (patterns) of their own – which are derived from these scales.
Until then – I remain,
Musically yours,
Al
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