Music Theory, 3E

CHAPTER4

Major and Minor Keys

In This Chapter

• Understanding major and minor keys
• Determining key by using key signatures
• Using the circle of fifths
• Applying accidentals and changing keys

If you’re writing music within the C Major scale, you have it easy. All the notes fall in the lines and spaces of the treble and bass clefs; no sharps or flats are necessary. (And, if you’re playing the piano, you don’t have to use those tricky black keys!)

However, if you’re writing music using another scale, you have to use accidentals to raise and lower notes beyond the white keys on the piano keyboard. For example, if you’re using the F Major scale, you ...