Music Lesson Part 2
Tricks for figuring out minor and major keys when using Flats
There are tricks for quickly identifying what key you are in for flats by looking at the key signature. Just like with sharps, the relative minor is three half steps away from the relative major. For instance when looking at B flat Major the relative minor is g minor. To figure out what key you are in when looking at the flats on either the Trebble or Base Cleffs simply take the second to last flat and whatever line it rests on that is the Key you are in. So if you see three flats, you look at the last one which rests on A and then you look at the second to last one which rests on E. Therefore, you are in E flat Major, to identify the relative minor simply take the last flat and raise it two half steps so the relative minor to A major is C minor. Practice more on the virtual piano to really get an understanding.
Posted: October 29th, 2008 under Music.