The Rules
Key signatures identify ___________.
Which notes are sharp / flat
Where “Do” is
The key with ONE sharp
G
The key with TWO flats
B flat
The first four flats
B, E, A, D
The first line of "You've Got A Friend In Me"
You've Got A Friend In Me
OR
"doo doo doo doo"
The rule for identifying flat keys
The last flat looks back
The second-to-last flat is "do"
The last flat is "fa"
The key with THREE sharps
A
The key with ONE flat
F
The full order of flats
B–E–A–D–G–C–F
The first line of "Gloria"
Gloria in excelsis
The rule for identifying SHARP keys
The last sharp is "ti"
"Do" is 1/2 step above the last sharp
The key is 1/2 step above the last sharp
The key with TWO sharps
D
The key with FOUR flats
A flat
The first four sharps
F, C, G, D
The first TWO lines of "Drivin' Me Crazy"
With the beat, beat, beat of a heartbeat
and the bang, bang, bang of my brain
A mnemonic for the order of FLATS
BEAD, Greatest Common Factor
Big Elephants And Dogs Go Chicken Fishin'
Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles' Father
The key with FOUR sharps
E
The key with THREE flats
E flat
The full order of sharps
F–C–G–D–A–E–B
The first FOUR lines of "The Gift to Sing"
Sometimes the mist overhangs my path,
And blackening clouds about me cling;
But, oh, I have a magic way
To turn the gloom to cheerful day
(I softly sing)
A mnemonic for the order of SHARPS
Fat Cats Go Down Alleys Eating Birds
Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
The key with FIVE sharps
B
The key with FIVE flats
D flat
The full order of Sharps AND Flats
F–C–G–D–A–E–B, B–E–A–D–G–C–F
ALL of the Latin to "Nearer, My God, to Thee"
In articulo mortis cælitus mihi vires.
Deo adjuvante non timendum in perpetuum.
Dirige nos Domine ad augusta per angusta.
Sic itur ad astra excelsior.