At Grade 1 you learned the major scales and key signatures of C, G, D and F. At Grade 2 you add three more major keys, reaching up to three sharps and three flats.
The pattern of a major scale
Every major scale is built from the same pattern of tones (T) and semitones (S), rising from the keynote: T–T–S–T–T–T–S. The two semitones fall between the 3rd and 4th notes and between the 7th and 8th notes. Getting this pattern right is how you decide which sharps or flats a key needs.
The new keys
- A major has three sharps: F♯, C♯ and G♯.
- B♭ major has two flats: B♭ and E♭.
- E♭ major has three flats: B♭, E♭ and A♭.
Together with the Grade 1 keys, you now know C major (no sharps or flats), G major (one sharp), D major (two sharps), A major (three sharps), F major (one flat), B♭ major (two flats) and E♭ major (three flats).
The order of sharps and flats
Sharps always appear in a fixed order: F, C, G and so on. Flats appear in the opposite order: B, E, A and so on. So the two-flat key signature is always B♭ then E♭, and the three-flat one adds A♭. Knowing these orders means you can write any key signature correctly and read one at a glance.
Key signature or accidentals
A key signature is written just after the clef and shows the sharps or flats that belong to the whole piece, so you do not have to mark each note. When a scale is written without a key signature, the same sharps or flats must be added as accidentals in front of the notes instead. Either way the sounding scale is the same. When you write out a scale using a key signature, remember not to repeat the sharps or flats in front of the notes, because the key signature has already taken care of them.
Remember
- Every major scale follows T–T–S–T–T–T–S.
- New keys: A major (3 sharps), B♭ major (2 flats), E♭ major (3 flats).
- Sharps come in the order F, C, G; flats come in the order B, E, A.
- A key signature applies to the whole piece; otherwise use accidentals.