What is the Circle of 5ths ? Part #3 - The 1,2,3 of figuring out Sharps

OK .... So we left off with our high-tech GPS device which helped us to navigate the Circle of 5ths.
We already understand:
How many flats and sharps exist in each key
IF you don't already know that?
Please read "What is the Circle of 5ths
Part 1, "The Key to Flats & Sharps" here
Part 2, "Navigating the Circle" Here


Let's continue our journey into the world of sharps after a quick review of our last adventure
G Major: 1 sharp
D Major: 2 sharps
A Major: 3 sharps
E Major: 4 sharps
B Major: 5 sharps
F# Major: 6 sharps
**Note Once again we are only talking about Major Keys here**

Now how do we figure out which sharps exist in each key?
Simple as 1, 2, 3!!!

Let's start with G (oh my those last 3 sentences rhymed unintentionally!!)
First Recall your musical alphabet A, B, C, D, E, F, G - G means GO back to A

1. Look at the Key Name
ex: G Major
2. What note comes before it in the alphabet ?
ex: Key of G
ex: F comes before G in the alphabet
3. Add a sharp
+ Key of G
+ F comes before G
+ Add a Sharp: F#
WHAT IS THE SHARP IN THE KEY OF G ? F# !!!!!
Simple as 1,2,3

Our next key in the circle is D ( 5 steps away from G = G, A, B, C, D)
We know that D has 2 sharps
1. Look at the Key Name ANSWER IS D MAJOR
2. What letter comes before D in the alphabet? ANSWER IS C
3. Add a sharp ANSWER IS C#

But Wait you said that D had TWO sharps?!?!
Well, remember I also said that sharp guy was a party fellow?
He travels from Bar to Bar and picks up Friends everywhere he goes!
In other words, as we travel clockwise from Key to Key,
For each progressive key we add our new sharp to the previous ones

EX: so we already learned that
The key of G has 1 sharp - F#
The key of D has 2 sharps - F# and C#
F# is already there from the previous key and now we add C#

Let's continue
Our next key after D is .... (count on your GPS)
So, thumb on D
Pointer finger on E
Middle finger on F
Ring finger on G
Pinky on A
VOILA! you have now determined your next key which is the key of A!

Let's go back to our 1,2,3 of figuring out the sharps
1. Look at the Key name: ANSWER IS A MAJOR
2. What letter comes before A in the alphabet ? ANSWER IS G
REMEMBER IN THE MUSICAL ALPHABET AFTER G WE GO BACK TO A
(this is the only instance where you have to remember something beyond the alphabet you learned in kindergarten - pretty simple because in that alphabet nothing comes before A, so just now commit to memory:
G comes before A, G comes before A, G comes before A)
3. Add a sharp - THE ANSWER IS G#
4. A Major has 3 sharps - Our new one is G# plus F# & C# because we've already picked them up from the last 2 keys.

NEXT
1. Look at the Key Name ANSWER IS E MAJOR
2. What letter comes before E in the alphabet? ANSWER IS D
3. Add a sharp ANSWER IS D#
4. E major has 4 sharps - D# plus the 3 from the previous keys: F#, C#, G#, D#

NEXT
1. Look at the Key Name ANSWER IS B MAJOR
2. What letter comes before B in the alphabet? ANSWER IS A
3. Add a sharp ANSWER IS A#
4. B major has 5 sharps - A# plus the 4 from the previous keys: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#

NEXT
1. Look at the Key Name ANSWER IS F# MAJOR
(because F has already been sharped in the circle he stays that way)
2. What letter comes before F in the alphabet? ANSWER IS E
3. Add a sharp ANSWER IS E#
4. F# major has 6 sharps - E# plus the 5 from the previous keys: F#,C#,G#,D#,A#,E#

I will leave C# to YOU!

Now, here's another tip - or perhaps a trend to notice...
Look at your sharps as they line up
F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#
Holy Genius of Music Theory!!!! There's another pattern here...
Can you see it? Hint: GPS Hint: Circle of 5ths
Give up?
THERE IS A 5TH BETWEEN EACH SHARP AS WE ADD THEM! Check it out
So, thumb on F
Pointer finger on G
Middle finger on A
Ring finger on B
Pinky on C
Get it! the relationship between F and C is a 5th (and the same goes for all of the other sharps we are adding) What another nifty way to figure it out

EX: We already know that G has one sharp which is F and that A has 3 sharps
To figure out the sharps in A you can travel the circle Starting at F# to C# to G#
Magical!!


Now, for homework
1. Take a minute NOW to write out the sharps in each key using the 1,2,3 method
PLEASE close this screen and do it without looking. Then you can double check it here!
2. Tape it to your bathroom mirror and review it as you brush your teeth each morn and evening
3. Play through each key on your instrument
4. APPLY IT in the next tune you're writing, the next chart you look at, hear it as you play.

Have Fun!!! and as always, drop a line back with any questions!!
Contact@meredithblis.com