key signature review and worksheets c, g, d, a, e, b, f#

170112 8. Key Signature Worksheets Sharps V1 of 28

KEY SIGNATURE REVIEW AND WORKSHEETS

C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, C# MAJOR

AND A, E, B, F#, C#, G#, D#, A# MINOR


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Don’t Forget ....................................................................................................................................... 3

Major and Minor Scale Patterns: ................................................................................................ 3

Key Signatures: .......................................................................................................................... 4

Minor Scales: ............................................................................................................................. 4

C Major ...................................................................................................................................... 5

A Minor ...................................................................................................................................... 6

G Major ..................................................................................................................................... 7

E Minor ...................................................................................................................................... 8

D Major ...................................................................................................................................... 9

B Minor .................................................................................................................................... 10

A Major .................................................................................................................................. ...11

F# Minor ................................................................................................................................ ...12

E Major .................................................................................................................................... 13

C# Minor .................................................................................................................................. 14

B Major .................................................................................................................................... 15

G# Minor ................................................................................................................................. 16

F# Major .................................................................................................................................. 17

D# Minor .................................................................................................................................. 18

C# Major .................................................................................................................................. 19

A# Minor ................................................................................................................................... 20

Key Signature Review: ..................................................................................................................... 21

Answers ........................................................................................................................................... 23

For more information please see “Easy n Fun: Scales and Keys”


DON’T FORGET

Scales are made up of tones and semitones

Semitones are the smallest distance between notes

They can ‘slide’ from a white key to a black key – F to F#

They can ‘slide’ from a black key to a white key – Bb to B

They can ‘slide’ from a white key to a white key – B to C

Tones are made up of two semitones and form a triangle

They can make a ‘triangle’ from two white keys – C to D

They can make a ‘triangle from two black keys – F# to G#

They can make a ‘triangle’ from a white key to a black key – B to C#

They can make a ‘triangle’ from a black key to a white key – F# to E

MAJOR AND MINOR SCALE PATTERNS Use these patterns to help you work out the keys needed

Major scale pattern is: tone tone semitone tone tone tone semitone

Minor scale pattern is: tone semitone tone tone semitone tone-and-a-half semitone

Steps to using the pattern:

1. Start with the first note, for example, F major begins on F

2. From F we need to find out what note is a tone above F. This brings us to G

3. From G we need another tone. This brings us to A

4. From A we need a semitone. This brings us to A# or Bb. Because we have already used the ‘A’ name, we shall use Bb. Therefore, we write in Bb

5. From Bb we need a tone. This brings us to C

6. From C we another tone. This gives us D

7. From D, another tone will bring us to E

8. From E our last distance is a semitone landing us back onto F, the note we started with.


KEY SIGNATURES

Key signatures are shown at the beginning of music

Go in alphabetical order: clefs, key signature then time signature

Key signatures are like a puzzle – they will tell you which notes need to be raised (sharps) or lowered (flats)

Major and minor scales are related (they share the same key signature) by 3 semitones

i.e. C major is related to A minor. As an exercise you can ‘slide down’ three keys

To find the relative minor – count DOWN (think of shrinking the “M”ajor into a “m”inor)

To find the relative major – count UP (enlarge the small ‘m’ of the minor to the large ‘M’ of the Major)

The key signature will narrow the puzzle down to a major key or its relative minor.

Look at the whole piece of music and see if there are raised notes (sharps or naturals) that keep appearing. For example if in A minor, you may see that most G’s are now G#

To determine the key of a piece you can also look at the final note or chord – this is usually the tonic (or keynote) of the scale.

For example, if the piece has 1 sharp in the key signature and no raised accidentals, then the last note or chord is likely to be G

Sharp key signatures are counted up in groups of 5

i.e. C (count up 5) => G => D => A => E => B => F# => C#

Order of sharps is one semitone below the keynote i.e. G major has F#

FLYING CHARLIE GOES DOWN AND EATS BERRIES is the order of sharps as written on the stave according to the key signatures

F# C# G# D# A# E# B#

Minor Scales:

Minor scales DO NOT INCLUDE the raised 7th in their key signature!!!!

i.e. A minor has the raised 7th of G#. This is not shown in the key signature. At all. EVER.

Be careful of double sharps (x) – these can be tricky!

We keep the ‘normal’ sharp inside the key signature but do not include the double sharp. Instead, we write the “x” before the note as an accidental.


C MAJOR

1. Write in the letters of the C major scale on the blank keyboard below.

Only write in the keys that you would play on the keyboard.

2. Now write the notes that you would use on the stave below.

Don’t forget to write in a treble or bass clef and finish with a double bar line!

3. How many sharps are inside C major?

How many flats are inside C major?

So, the key signature is nothing!! There are NO sharps and NO flats

4. Now it’s your turn to practice drawing the C major key signature

Ok, so all you have to do is:

Create a grand staff (draw a straight line joining the two staves and add a brace on the left)

Write in a treble and bass clef

Draw a straight bar lines through both staves to create 5 bars of music

End with a double bar line


A MINOR

1. Write in the letters of the A minor scale on the blank keyboard below.


Hint: this is a minor scale – don’t forget to raise the 7th note!



3. How many sharps are inside A minor?

Is this the 7th note of the scale? Do we write this sharp at the beginning in the key signature? How many flats are inside A minor?

So, the key signature is nothing!! There are NO sharps and NO flats. Just like its relative major – C major

4. Now it’s your turn to practice drawing the A minor key signature

Create a grand staff (draw a straight line joining the two staves and add a brace on the left)

Write in a treble and bass clef

Draw a straight bar lines through both staves to create 5 bars of music



G MAJOR

1. Write in the letters of the G major scale on the blank keyboard below

Only write in the keys that you would play on the keyboard

Hint: This scale requires 1 sharp



3. How many sharps are inside G major?

What is the sharp?

How many flats are inside G major?

So, the key signature is 1 sharp - F#.

Notice how F# is one semitone below G

4. Now it’s your turn to practice drawing the G major key signature

Create a grand stave

Insert the treble and bass clefs

Insert the sharp through the ‘F’ lines

Draw a bar line

Repeat the clefs and key signature another 4 times



E Minor

1. Write in the letters of the E minor scale on the blank keyboard below

Hint: This scale is related to G major and also needs a raised 7th note



3. How many sharps are inside E minor?

What are they? Which is written in the key signature? Which is the raised 7th? Do we write the 7th in the key signature? How many flats are inside E minor? So, the key signature is F#. Just like its relative major – G major

4. Now it’s your turn to practice drawing the G major key signature



Insert the sharp through the ‘F’ lines

Draw a bar line




D MAJOR

1. Write in the letters of the D major scale on the blank keyboard below.


Hint: This scale requires 2 sharps.



3. How many sharps are inside D major? What are they? How many flats are inside D major? So, the key signature is 2 sharps - F# and C# Notice how we keep the F# and we now add the C#, which is a semitone below D

4. Now it’s your turn to practice drawing the D major key signature



Insert the sharps through the ‘F’ lines and ‘C’ spaces

Draw a bar line




B MINOR 1. Write in the letters of the B minor scale on the blank keyboard below.


Hint: This scale is related to D major and also needs a raised 7th note.



3. How many sharps are inside B minor? What are they? Which is written in the key signature? Which is the raised 7th? Do we write the 7th in the key signature? How many flats are inside B minor? So, the key signature is F# and C#. Just like its relative major – D major

4. Now it’s your turn to practice drawing the B minor key signature



Insert the sharps through the ‘F’ lines and ‘C’ spaces

Draw a bar line




A MAJOR

1. Write in the letters of the A major scale on the blank keyboard below

Hint: You’ll need 3 sharps


3. How many sharps are inside A major?

What are they?

How many flats are inside A major?

So, the key signature is 3 sharps - F# C# and G#.

Notice how we keep the F# and C#, and now add the G#which is a semitone below A.

4. Now it’s your turn to practice drawing the A major key signature



Insert the sharps as shown

Draw a bar line




F# MINOR

1. Write in the letters of the F# minor scale on the blank keyboard below

Hint: Use the scale patterns and make sure you name the notes accordingly


3. How many sharps are inside F# minor?

What are they?

Which is written in the key signature?

Which is the raised 7th?

Notice that the raised 7th is actually a white key!! E# is also known as F

Do we write the 7th in the key signature?

How many flats are inside F# minor?

So, the key signature is F# C# and G#. Just like its relative major – A major

4. Now it’s your turn to practice drawing the F# minor key signature

Create a grand stave with treble and bass clefs

Insert the sharps as shown

Draw a bar line




E MAJOR

1. Write in the letters of the E major scale on the blank keyboard below.

Hint: You’ll need 4 sharps


3. How many sharps are inside E major?

What are they?

How many flats are inside E major?

So, the key signature is 4 sharps - F# C# G# and D#

By now you’ve got the pattern: we keep the old sharps and add the new sharp that is asemitone below the tonic

4. Now it’s your turn to practice drawing the E major key signature.


C# MINOR

1. Write in the letters of the C# minor scale on the blank keyboard below

Hint: Don’t forget that white keys can also be called ‘sharps’


3. How many sharps are inside C# minor?

What are they?



Notice that the raised 7th is actually another white key!! B# is also known as C


How many flats are inside C# minor?

So, the key signature is F# C# G# and D#. Just like its relative major – E major

4. Now it’s your turn to practice drawing the C# minor key signature


B MAJOR

1. Write in the letters of the B major scale on the blank keyboard below.


3. How many sharps are inside B major?

What are they?

How many flats are inside B major?

So, the key signature is 5 sharps - F# C# G# D# and A#

4. Now it’s your turn to practice drawing the B major key signature.


G# MINOR

1. Write in the letters of the G# minor scale on the blank keyboard below

Hint: Follow the scale pattern to make sure you write in the correct name for the notes!


3. How many sharps are inside G# minor?

What are they?



Notice that the raised 7th is now a double sharp.

We now write x before the F note. This is because we had to raise F# (which is in the keysignature) another semitone. So F double sharp is actually G. We still keep the F# in the keysignature and now add the ‘x’ before the note as an accidental.


How many flats are inside C# minor?

So, the key signature is F# C# G# D# and A#. Just like its relative major – B major

4. Now it’s your turn to practice drawing the G# minor key signature.


F# MAJOR

1. Write in the letters of the F# major scale on the blank keyboard below


3. How many sharps are inside F# major?

What are they?

How many flats are inside F# major?

So, the key signature is 6 sharps - F# C# G# D# A# and E#

4. Now it’s your turn to practice drawing the F# major key signature


D# MINOR

1. Write in the letters of the D# minor scale on the blank keyboard below

Hint: This will also need a double sharp!


3. How many sharps are inside D# minor?

What are they?




How many flats are inside D# minor?

Notice that the raised 7th is another double sharp, shown with x before the C. This isbecause we had to raise C# (which is in the key signature) another semitone. So C doublesharp is actually D.

So, the key signature is F# C# G# D# A# and E#. Just like its relative major – F# major

4. Now it’s your turn to practice drawing the D# minor key signature


C# MAJOR

1. Write in the letters of the C# major scale on the blank keyboard below


3. How many sharps are inside C# major?

What are they?

How many flats are inside C# major?

So, the key signature is 7 sharps - F# C# G# D# A# E# andB#.

4. Now it’s your turn to practice drawing the C# major key signature.


A# MINOR

1. Write in the letters of the A# minor scale on the blank keyboard below

Hint: This is all sharps!


3. How many sharps are inside A# minor?

What are they?




How many flats are inside A# minor?

Notice that we have another double sharp shown with x before the G. This is because wehad to raise G# (which is in the key signature) another semitone. So G double sharp isactually A.

So, the key signature is F# C# G# D# A# and E#. Just like its relative major – F# major

4. Now it’s your turn to practice drawing the A# minor key signature


KEY SIGNATURE REVIEW

1. Complete the table below

Major Scale Notes Sharps Key Signature

C Major C D E F G A B C

G Major G A B C D E F# G

D Major D E F# G A B C# D

A Major A B C# D E F# G# A

E Major E F# G# A B C# D# E

B Major B C# D# E F# G# A# B

F# Major F# G# A# B C# D# E# F#

C# Major C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C#

2. How many scales have double sharps?

3. Name them:

4. What do they all have in common?

5. Do we write the double sharps in the key signature?

6. If you have a piece in A major how do you find out the relative minor?

7. What is the relative minor of A major?

8. If a piece of music is in B minor, what is the relative major?

9. Write the following key signatures on the stave below:

a) E major b) C# major c) G major d) D major


e) F# minor f) A# minor g) G# minor h) B minor

10. Name these key signatures - Don’t forget to name both the major and minor names!

Major:

Minor:

Major:

Minor:

Major:

Minor:

Major:

Minor:

Major:

Minor:

Major:

Minor:

Major:

Minor:

Major:

Minor:


ANSWERS


KEY SIGNATURE REVIEW

1. Complete the table below

Major Scale Notes Sharps Key Signature

C Major C D E F G A B C - -

G Major G A B C D E F# G 1 F#

D Major D E F# G A B C# D 2 F#, C#

A Major A B C# D E F# G# A 3 F#, C#. G#

E Major E F# G# A B C# D# E 4 F#, C#, G#. D#

B Major B C# D# E F# G# A# B 5 F#, C#, G#, D#, A#

F# Major F# G# A# B C# D# E# F# 6 F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#

C# Major C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# 7 F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#

2. How many scales have double sharps? 3

3. Name them: G# minor, D# minor, A# minor

4. What do they all have in common? It is a result of the raised 7th

5. Do we write the double sharps in the key signature? No

6. If you are in A major how do you find the relative minor? Count down 3 semitones

7. What is the relative minor of A major? F# minor

8. If a piece of music is in B minor, what is the relative major? D Major

9. Write the following key signatures on the stave below:

a) b) and f) c)

d) and h) e) g)


10.

Major: C major Minor: A minor

Major: D major Minor: B minor

Major: B major Minor: G# minor

Major: C# major Minor: A# minor

Major: G major Minor: E minor

Major: E major Minor: C# minor

Major: A major Minor: F# minor

Major: F# major Minor: D# minor

key signature review and worksheets c, g, d, a, e, b, f#

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