Other Major Keys (Junior Cert Music): Revision Notes

Other Major Keys

Other Major Keys

• There are many major keys, each with a different tonic note.
• Some major keys use sharps (#) or flats (♭) in their key signatures.
• A sharp sign raises the pitch of a note by a semitone.
• A flat sign lowers a note by a semitone.
• For example, F♯ is one semitone higher than F. B♭ is one semitone lower than B.
• We will look at:
  • G Major
  • D Major
  • F Major

G Major

• The pattern of notes in the scale of G major contains one sharp - F sharp (F♯).
• Scale: G – A – B – C – D – E – F♯ – G
• Key Signature: 1 sharp (F♯)
• Instead of writing F♯ every time, the key signature places a sharp on F at the start of the piece.

D Major

• The pattern of notes in the scale of D major contains two sharps- F sharp (F♯) and C sharp (C♯).
• Scale: D – E – F♯ – G – A – B – C♯ – D
• Key Signature: 2 sharps (F♯, C♯).
• The key signature is inserted on every stave.

F Major

• The pattern of notes in the scale of F major has one note that sits on a black key - B flat (B♭).
• Scale: F – G – A – B♭ – C – D – E – F
• Key Signature: 1 flat (B♭)
• Every B in F major is lowered by a semitone, making it B♭.

B♭ Major

• The pattern of notes in the scale of B♭ major has two notes that fall on a black key – B flat (B♭) and E flat (E♭).
• Scale: B♭ – C – D – E♭ – F – G – A – B♭
• Key Signature: 2 flats (B♭, E♭).
• The key signature is inserted at the beginning of every stave.
• Every B and E note in B♭ major is automatically lowered by a semitone.