How to Memorize Music Key Signatures with Flats

Music students should learn to feel comfortable with referring to the key signature of a piece to determine its key. A proficient musician will play the piece while thinking in terms of the given key, instead of "reinventing the wheel" and constantly checking to see which notes are to be flatted or sharped.

This article shows you how to work with key signatures that involve flats, including how to identify the given key, and how to notate the key signature. The companion article (see Resources) does this for key signatures with sharps. The article a basic knowledge of music theory.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. 0 Flats: C Major

   Let's start with a blank key signature with no sharps or flats. We must memorize that such a key signature represents the key of C Major. The corresponding minor key is always a minor third (three semitones) lower, which in this case is A Minor.

2. 1 Flat: F Major

   To form the first key signature with flats, we have to memorize that the first flat to add is Bb, on the middle line. Although there is a mnemonic device for determining what key is represented by a key signature involving flats, it doesn't "kick in" until we have two flats. We must simply memorize that the first key signature of one flat represents the key of F major, or D minor.

3. The Circle of Fifths

   Note that we are going to be traversing the Circle of Fifths in a counterclockwise manner. We started with the key of C Major, and now we're at F Major. F is a perfect fifth (seven half steps) below C. Another way to think about this is that C is the fifth note of an F scale (either major or minor).

4. The Order and Pattern of the Flats

   To get to the next key signature with flats, we must add Eb. Take a look at the diagram at left. That shows us the order in which we will add our flats, and how they are arranged. The order of the flats is BEADGCF. Notice that the first four letter spell the word "bead," and the last three letters are acronym for "greatest common factor," if that helps you remember them.

   It is helpful to remember that the order of the flats in the flat key signatures is the reverse of the order of the sharps in the sharp key signatures. Be sure to observe the pattern of how the flats are added. From the Bb, we go down up-down-up-down-up-down, which is a bit different than what we do with the sharp key signatures.

5. 2 Flats: Bb Major

   Now that we have two flats, the trick mentioned in Step 2 can be used. To determine the key that a flat key signature represents, look at the second-to-last flat. That flat tells us what key is represented, including the actual flat. For example, in the key signature with 2 flats, the second-to-last flat is Bb. That tells us that a key signature of two flats represents the key of Bb Major (or G minor). Looking at the Circle of Fifths, Bb is a perfect fifth below F, which was the key signature involving one flat.

6. 3 Flats: Eb Major

   Continuing the pattern we have Ab as our third key signature flat, corresponding to a key of Eb Major or C Minor. Remember, the second-to-last flat in the signature was Eb.

7. 4 Flats: Ab Major

   Continuing, we have Db as our fourth key signature flat, corresponding to a key of Ab Major or F Minor.

8. 5 Flats: Db Major

   Continuing, we have Gb as our fifth key signature flat, corresponding to a key of Db Major or Bb Minor.

9. 6 Flats: Gb Major

   Continuing, we have Cb as our sixth key signature flat. The second-to-last flat in the signature is Gb, therefore this key signature corresponds to Gb Major or Eb Minor. Verify that Gb is a perfect fifth below Db, which was our previous key, and that Db is the fifth note of the Gb scale (either major or minor).

10. 7 Flats: Cb Major

    Continuing, we have Gb as our seventh and final key signature flat. As before, the second-to-last flat in the signature is Cb, therefore this key signature corresponds to Cb Major or what we would call G# Minor. Verify that Cb is a perfect fifth below Gb, which was our previous key, and that Gb is the fifth note of the Cb scale (either major or minor).

11. The Order and Pattern of the Flats

    Remember the order of the flats in the key signature: BEADGCF. Remember the pattern of how the flats are written. Remember the mnemonic device of examining the second-to-last flat to see what major key it corresponds to. Keep practicing! ♫

Resources

• How to Memorize Music Key Signatures with Sharps