Random thoughts...on key signatures!

[MixBass]

One silver lining this pandemic has presented me is an unrivaled surf schedule!
Often times I’ll be alone and have devised
ways to keep my mind occupied during lulls, partially in an effort to not think every piece of kelp that flips in the breeze is a shark fin.
Here are a few.

Counting waves with key signatures.
First maybe flats:
1=F
2=Bb
etc etc
8=C no sharps or flats

Then sharps:
1=G
etc etc
8=C again

So that said on a fair day I would aim for a minimum one cycle through each, 16 waves.
Initially I started with C=1 F=2...yikes, problems!

Well after several times with my new accounting system I started looking at the relationships between the key signatures.
Some musings:

1 accidental = F or G, a whole step apart

3 or 4 accidentals = some version of A or E:
3 sharps A / 3 flats Eb
4 sharps E / 4 flats Ab

5 accidentals = B or Db...again a whole step apart but wait...a 3rd apart name wise...

6 accidentals = F# or Gb...the same pitch but different names

7 accidentals = C# or Cb...again a whole step apart

Now that I’ve got that off my chest haha...

 

[FatStringer52]

I think you've been smoking way too much of that kelp . . .

 

[MixBass]

I think you've been smoking way too much of that kelp . . .

Funny you say that, I quit a few years ago...back then I kept these things to myself!

 

[Spin Doctor]

One silver lining this pandemic has presented me is an unrivaled surf schedule!
Often times I’ll be alone and have devised
ways to keep my mind occupied during lulls, partially in an effort to not think every piece of kelp that flips in the breeze is a shark fin.
Here are a few.

Counting waves with key signatures.
First maybe flats:
1=F
2=Bb
etc etc
8=C no sharps or flats

Then sharps:
1=G
etc etc
8=C again

So that said on a fair day I would aim for a minimum one cycle through each, 16 waves.
Initially I started with C=1 F=2...yikes, problems!

Well after several times with my new accounting system I started looking at the relationships between the key signatures.
Some musings:

1 accidental = F or G, a whole step apart

3 or 4 accidentals = some version of A or E:
3 sharps A / 3 flats Eb
4 sharps E / 4 flats Ab

5 accidentals = B or Db...again a whole step apart but wait...a 3rd apart name wise...

6 accidentals = F# or Gb...the same pitch but different names

7 accidentals = C# or Cb...again a whole step apart

Now that I’ve got that off my chest haha...

I was on that kick back in the day. So wrote this chart to help me keep track of it. I still use it from time to time.

 

[AGCurry]

I don't know where I heard this - it was a long time ago - there are mnemonic phrases for remembering:

Sharps: Go Down And Eat Breakfast For Charlie - count by fourths down or fifths up
Flats: Fat Boys Eat Apple Dumplings Girls Can't - count by fourths up or fifths down

Never bothered with mnemonics for minor keys since a minor key signature is 1-1/2 steps below its associated major key signature. That's not too hard.

 

[mambo4]

I memorized up to 4 flats/ sharps at a glance
After that I just keep in mind:
reading left to right , The last sharp is always the 7th scale degree of the key , the last flat the 4th
for major keys of course

 

[Pacman]

I memorized up to 4 flats/ sharps at a glance
After that I just keep in mind:
reading left to right , The last sharp is always the 7th scale degree of the key , the last flat the 4th
for major keys of course

Or the second to last flat is the key center

 

[Rhythmman535]

It's the cycle (circle) of 4ths of 5ths depending on which way you're going. The bass guitar is tuned in 4ths so you're 25% done just by learning the open strings. You may never see it but F# and Gb both are legitimate key signatures.

 

[MixBass]

I don't know where I heard this - it was a long time ago - there are mnemonic phrases for remembering:

Sharps: Go Down And Eat Breakfast For Charlie - count by fourths down or fifths up
Flats: Fat Boys Eat Apple Dumplings Girls Can't - count by fourths up or fifths down

Never bothered with mnemonics for minor keys since a minor key signature is 1-1/2 steps below its associated major key signature. That's not too hard.

Haha, mine were:
Can fudge be eaten after dark gets close
California grass doesn’t always even burn fine cuz

 

[AGCurry]

You may never see it but F# and Gb both are legitimate key signatures.

As are B and C flat.