Memorizing The Keys

[MonetBass]

Surprised nobody mentioned this, but for sharp keys, picture the number of pencil strokes it takes to write the letter. Eg, you can write a G with one pencil stroke, therefore 1 sharp. A D takes 2 strokes, therefore 2 sharps. A has 3 lines, E has 4, etc. falls apart a bit after that, but it got me started. Shout out to “Music Student 101” for teaching me that- it is a truly fantastic podcast!

Fixed it for you. For this topic, switching terms causes confusion.

 

[Wannabebass]

Thank you! Always be careful when taking advice from a newb such as myself

 

[Pilgrim]

Not every brain works the same way, and everyone'e learning preferences are unique. My preference, because it underpins true understanding over rote memorisation, includes seeing connections and derivations from first principles. So that video, whilst effective, leaves a gap.

Here is how I was taught to deduce, not remember, the order of accidentals:

The major scale is constructed from 2 identical 'Tetrachords', each consisting of a tone/tone/semitone (W W H) and separated by a tone (W)

(Etc....)

Unfortunately you lost me at "tetrachord"...

I looked it up and it's defined as "a scale of four notes." Unfortunately that does not help me, as the musical scale has more than four notes.

The video is interesting but a lot more than I can deal with while playing notes. Maybe that's why this concept has escaped me for a few decades.

As you say, people's brains work in different ways...and that's not a great fit for me. I hope it helps others.

 

[Papageno]

Unfortunately you lost me at "tetrachord"...

I looked it up and it's defined as "a scale of four notes." Unfortunately that does not help me, as the musical scale has more than four notes.

Nothing mysterious: a tetrachord is a scale fragment of 4 notes, not a complete scale.

 

[g-dude]

Nothing mysterious: a tetrachord is a scale fragment of 4 notes, not a complete scale.

Stated another way - put your thumbs away. You have eight fingers left, which is four on each hand.

If you play the standard major scale using one finger per note, each hand has a tetrachord and each of those tetrachords are the exact same pattern.

 

[Snarf]

I was wondering if someone can give me insight into this. I use the circle of fifths to make sense of the keys but remembering which have how many flats and sharps is difficult.

Thank you !

I don't refer to them as sharps or flats, more like peaks and valleys. When I'm studying my keys, I look at the teeth and the shape of the peaks and valleys. Once I memorize the overall shape, I can usually pick out the right key for whatever door I'm trying to open. I tried sticking labels on them once, but they just got all gluey.