1.

The Basics of Keys and Scales

Scale:
A pattern of musical pitches (notes) in order, which form a particular sound, they form the
basis of music. (You do not need to learn this).
How Scales are Formed:
Scales are formed by patterns of tones and semitones,(a semitone is the smallest distance
you can move on a piano and a tone is two of them.
Major Scale:
Below is a diagram showing the C major scale written on the treble clef, with the piano
keys below.
The pattern of tones (T) and semitones (S) is as observed from the diagram is:
__ __ __ __ __ __ __
This pattern is the same for all major scales, you can see how the piano is laid out to make
it very easy to play in C major, creating the correct pattern of tones and semitones.
Keys:
Keys allow us to begin at different places on the piano, but still recreate the same pattern
of tones and semitones.
Key Signature:
A set of sharps or flats at the beginning of the music which sets us up to play beginning on
a specific note, where that note is the focus and sounds correct as the start or end.
Relative Keys:
Each key signature effectively has two meanings, it represents either a major key, or a
minor key which would start on a different note (actually this is always three semitones
down). The two keys sharing the same key signature are called the relative major and the
relative minor.
Grade 5 Keys and Scales:
In the ABRSM grade 5 music theory exam, you are expected to be able to use key
signatures of up to six sharps and six flats, and to know which major and minor keys they
create. This may sound a lot to remember, but there is a simple way of working them all
out.
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1. The Basics of Keys and Scales
The Table Method for Working out Key Signatures:
In a theory exam, you are given plenty of time to answer the questions, and also some
scrap paper. It is a great way to start if you write this out to refer to before answering
questions. The table below shows how you begin for sharps, and what you would need to
remember.
To complete this table we continue to populate each line, by adding five. That works as
follows:

To find the next major key, count up five from the previous (working down the table) -
remember to count the first key as one.

Each new row in the sharps column, carries the sharps from the previous key above, and
adds a new one, to find the new one add five starting on the previous one.

Work down the minor keys in the same way as the majors.
Now for the flats:
For this one the rules all work in the same way except that you count four each time
instead of 5.
You should practise creating this whenever you can, especially when you are practising
questions using keys and scales, or when you are completing a past exam paper. It takes
less than five minutes and is reliable.
Major Key Sharps Minor Key
C - A
F
Major Key Flats Minor Key
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1. The Basics of Keys and Scales
How key signatures look in the treble and bass clefs:
You will need to be able to carefully and accurately draw key signatures, always do music
theory with a sharp pencil. Notice how with each progressive one, that the previous
pattern is added to, the symbols have to be placed on the specific octave positions as
shown.
This will become easier with practise, there is more information on remembering how to do
this in the factsheets.
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1. The Basics of Keys and Scales
Forming scales:
Major scales - are simple and straight forward, they begin on the key note and move one
note at a time up (ascending) or down (descending) until the correct number of octaves
has been reached, finishing up back on the key note.
Harmonic minor scales - This is the mostly commonly played form of minor scale, it has a
familiar sound and it is the same when ascending or descending. It is formed using the key
signature from the chart, but then you use accidentals to raise the seventh note by a
semitone (remember to count up from the bottom).
Melodic minor scales - These are a little more complicated, and in piano are not
compulsory in exams until grade 6. They are formed as follows:

Ascending - raise the sixth and seventh notes by a semitone,

Descending - exactly as the key signatures (this is sometimes referred to as a natural

minor scale.
Revision of Accidentals
SHARP FLAT NATURAL DOUBLE SHARP DOUBLE FLAT
An accidental changes the note in front of it, and any other notes on the same line or
space until the end of the bar.

A sharp - raises a note by a semitone

A flat - lowers a note by a semitone

A natural - means that you play the normal note (white key on piano).

A double sharp - raises a note by two semitones (this allows you to raise a note by a
semitone which is already a sharp)

A double flat - lowers a note by two semitones.

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