Introduction

For the last guide in our series of key signatures and scales, we look at some new scales with up to 7 sharps and flats, and also at the correct order of sharps/flats in key signatures in the tenor clef.

The tenor clef

So far, we have looked at the correct order of sharps or flats in key signatures in the treble clef, bass clef, and alto clef.

We also need to consider the tenor clef, which along with the alto clef is a type of C clef, and has been covered in detail in The C clefs.

Although it is very similar to the alto clef, the different placement of the tenor clef in the stave means that the familiar rules for correct placement of the key signature need examining once again:

1. Add new sharps (or flats) to the right of previous sharps (or flats)
   (So in A major, we add the new sharp - G sharp - to the right of the two sharps from D major)
2. Put the sharp (or flat) in the highest available line (flats) or space (sharps), without going out of the stave
3. The sharps (or flats) must rise and fall in sequence, unless doing so would cause the sharp/flat to go out of the stave
   (So, if a sharp or flat is above the one before, the next sharp must go below)

If you do not play an instrument that uses the tenor clef, you will not quickly become familiar with the correct notation of key signatures in that clef. So, it's worth being sure of the rules, as that is easier than memorising every single key signature!

The alto clef key signatures

Let's look at two key signatures with which you will already be familiar, with five flats and sharps - but in the tenor clef.

Tenor clef key signatures with 5 flats and sharps

Given these two key signatures, you can easily see how to construct the key signatures with fewer than 5 flats or sharps.

F sharp major

F sharp major has six sharps, and is a relatively common key. Here it is in the treble clef with the key signature in the other three clefs - take special note of the positions of the sharps in the key signatures:

The key signature and scale of F sharp major

D sharp minor

F sharp major is the relative major of D sharp minor, an uncommon key which requires the uncommon note C double sharp for the raised 7th. Here it is in the treble clef:

The key signature and scales of D sharp minor

Here is a short segment of a fugue by J. S. Bach in the key of D sharp minor. Note the use of accidentals and double sharps, and look for the cautionary accidentals after barlines. In particular, notice how after a double sharp accidental is cancelled by a barline, the cautionary accidental is a single sharp.

J.S. Bach, music in D sharp minor from The Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV853/2

C sharp major

Just as C major has no sharps or flats, in C sharp major, every note is a sharp! This makes it quite easy to remember, even if it appears awkward to play; the key signature shows all 7 sharps in the correct positions:

The key signature and scale of C sharp major

A sharp minor

As you will know from reading Related keys, every major scale has a relative minor, and C sharp major is no exception.

However, the relative minor of C sharp major is A sharp minor, a key so awkward that it is almost never used - instead, the enharmonic equivalent B flat minor is used instead. With just 5 flats, that's a much easier proposition!

G flat major

G flat major has six flats. Compare the position of these flats in each clef:

The key signature and scale of G flat major

E flat minor

The relative minor of G flat major is E flat minor. Here it is in each of the minor forms:

The key signature and scale of E flat minor

C flat major

Just as C sharp major has every note sharp, C flat major has every note flat, which also makes it easy to remember. The key signature shows all 7 flats in the correct positions, and is therefore one to remember:

The key signature and scale of C flat major

A flat minor

Unlike the relative minor of C sharp major, the relative minor of C flat major: A flat minor is quite a common key, and a comparatively straightforward key in which to play.

The key signature and scale of A flat minor

Enharmonic keys

Now that we have finished our cycle through all of the keys from 0 flats and sharps up to 7 flats and 7 sharps, we can spot a few keys that sound exactly the same, but are notated differently.

• B major and C flat major (also G sharp minor and A flat minor)
• D flat major and C sharp major
• G flat major and F sharp major (also E flat minor and D sharp minor)

These pairs of keys are called enharmonic keys: in which every note of one key in the pair has its enharmonic equivalent on the same degree of the other key in the pair.

Knowing some of these enharmonic pairs can make playing scales easier - you might for example prefer to think "in" D flat major than C sharp major!

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Revision

Are you sure you've understood everything in this study guide? Why not try the following practice questions, just to be sure!