Nautical Science

Below is a revised chart, often called the ‘Circle of Keys’ or ‘Circle of Fifths’. We have revised this chart so that students can better see flat keys as they “progress” around the ‘wheel’. The importance of finding the correct key of a composition and remembering what flats or sharps are to be used when performing it cannot be stressed enough. All students are urged to learn and understand the circle of keys. For first year students, learn the first “primary keys”, C, F, and G. Then expand your knowledge to memorize up the key of four (4) sharps (#) and four flats (b). For this new edition we’ve also indicated the “intensity” of the ever increasing sharp (#) and flat (b) keys by using colour: Red for FLAT keys and Blue for SHARP keys. Hope you enjoy and find this Chart of value.
Want a ‘cool’ way to remember the keys? Learn this little Rhyme made up by one of my students, starting with the Flat keys: Dinosaurs (Db for 5 flats) Ate Eggs But Fast Cats Go Down Alleys Eating Bones (for 5 sharps [#] )
(If you have any good rhymes or acronynms for the names of the keys or the names of notes, send to Dr. Ken at: [e-mail]

#

Flat Keys

b
The Key of

The Key of
The Key of

Sharp Keys
The Key of

F major major

C
[ A minor]
(or)

major

(or) D minor

G
(or)

major

Bb

& b ==== b Bb

==== &
0

==== &
#

#

[ E minor]
The Key of

#

(or) [ G minor]

b ==== & b
Bb,Eb

1
F# F#C#

(or) [ B minor]

D

major

2

## ==== &
The Key of

The Key of

Eb

major

(or) [C minor]

==== &

bbb

Bb,Eb,Ab,

Bb,Eb,Ab,Db,

Circle of Keys ©

F#C#G#

3 4

(or) [ F# minor]

A

major

==== &
F#C#G#D#
The Key of

###

The Key of

Ab

b b ==== & b b major F#C#G# F#C#G#D# F#C#G# D#A# A#E#B# D#A#E# B bEbA b B bEbA bD b D bGb bEbA bD bGbC b GbC bFb B

or[ C# minor]

E

major

(or) ( F minor )

# ## # # # 7 # ==== &

==== &

# ## #

Db major or [Bb minor]