Writing minor keys involves understanding their key signatures and scales, primarily focusing on the natural minor scale, which directly dictates the key signature. Here's a breakdown:
Understanding Minor Key Signatures
Minor key signatures align with the notes of the natural minor scale. The natural minor scale provides the basis for determining the flats or sharps present in the key signature.
Example: C Minor
- The C natural minor scale contains E♭, A♭, and B♭.
- Therefore, the key signature of C minor has three flats: B♭, E♭, and A♭.
Steps for Writing Minor Keys
- Identify the Tonic: Determine the root note of the minor key (e.g., C in C minor).
- Construct the Natural Minor Scale: Build the natural minor scale using the formula: whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step.
- Determine the Key Signature:
- The key signature will include all the flats or sharps found in the natural minor scale.
- The order of flats is always B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭.
- The order of sharps is always F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯.
- Write the Key Signature: Place the flats or sharps at the beginning of each staff. For C minor, write B♭, E♭, and A♭.
Key Signature Order
The order in which you write flats and sharps in a key signature is crucial.
| Type | Order |
|---|---|
| Flats | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭ |
| Sharps | F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯ |
Practical Tips
- Always double-check the natural minor scale to ensure you haven't missed any accidentals.
- Memorizing the order of flats and sharps will speed up the process.
