Lesson Four
The objectives for this lesson are to use the order of flats to determine the key of the music, list the order of flats, state a mnemonics to remember the order of flats, describe how the order of flats is used, and state that music with one flat is automatically in FM; F Major.
![Picture](/uploads/8/9/5/9/8959482/256435654.png)
You are almost a master of identifying key signatures! In this lesson you will discover how to identify key signatures with flat signs. Before you sing or play a piece of music you must always know what notes in the piece need to be performed flat, sharp or natural. The key signature is what provides this information to you. In this lesson we will learn how to identify flat key signatures. Remember that a flat sign looks like an italicized lowercase b. There can be up to seven flats in a key signature. Remember, that if a piece of music does not have flats or sharps it is automatically in the key of C Major. Key signatures are always located at the beginning of a piece of music between the clef and the time signature, but can also be found elsewhere in the music.
Learning how to identify flat key signatures in music is not as hard as it might seem. In music there is a specific order of flats and sharps. In this lesson you will be learning about flat key signatures and therefore will be focusing on the order of flats. All flats will be ordered in one way for all music. The order of flats is B-E-A-D-G-C-F. At first glance this seems very intimidating, but there are a few easy ways to remember the order of flats. As the order never changes, you can remember the letters with a mnemonic or memory aid. There are multiple ways to remember the order of flats and only a few will be discussed in this lesson. You are even able to come up with your own it you want just remember to include all the flats. One way to remember the order of flats is to recognize that the first four letters spell the word 'bead' and the last three letters are G-C-F which could refer to 'greatest common factor'. You could also remember the saying 'Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles's Father'. The first letter of each word represents the order of flats. Once you have memorized the order of flats the rest becomes really easy!
Learning how to identify flat key signatures in music is not as hard as it might seem. In music there is a specific order of flats and sharps. In this lesson you will be learning about flat key signatures and therefore will be focusing on the order of flats. All flats will be ordered in one way for all music. The order of flats is B-E-A-D-G-C-F. At first glance this seems very intimidating, but there are a few easy ways to remember the order of flats. As the order never changes, you can remember the letters with a mnemonic or memory aid. There are multiple ways to remember the order of flats and only a few will be discussed in this lesson. You are even able to come up with your own it you want just remember to include all the flats. One way to remember the order of flats is to recognize that the first four letters spell the word 'bead' and the last three letters are G-C-F which could refer to 'greatest common factor'. You could also remember the saying 'Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles's Father'. The first letter of each word represents the order of flats. Once you have memorized the order of flats the rest becomes really easy!
![Picture](/uploads/8/9/5/9/8959482/1331341936.png)
Top: A flat Major, Bottom: F Major
Since the order of flats in a key signature never changes the next step is to discover how to identify the key signature. How many flats do you see in the key signature? Take the next to last flat and that is the letter of your key signature. For example, you have three flats, B-E-A, the second to last flat is E so your key signature is E flat. If you had six flats in the key signature, B-E-A-D-G-C, the second to last flat is G flat so your key signature is G flat. It is that easy! Got it yet? Do not worry because you will have plenty of time to practice! There is one exception to the rule of identifying flat key signatures. What happens when there is only one flat? Obviously there is no second to the last flat. Unfortunately, in a key signature with one flat you must memorize that it automatically indicates F Major. It can't follow the rule.
Now it's time to put your knowledge to the test! For this lesson you will be playing a flash card game to practice your identification skills. Remember your order of flats and that the key is always the second to last flat except when there is only one flat; then it is always F Major. Click here to get started. Have fun and good luck!
Now it's time to put your knowledge to the test! For this lesson you will be playing a flash card game to practice your identification skills. Remember your order of flats and that the key is always the second to last flat except when there is only one flat; then it is always F Major. Click here to get started. Have fun and good luck!