Key Signatures for Grade 5 Music Theory ABRSM: EASY!

Key Signatures for Grade 5 Music Theory: Easy! (ABRSM)

In the grade 5 music theory exam you need to recognise and use key signatures with up to six flats or sharps in them. This video explains an easy way to draw up tables with all the information about numbers of sharps and flats, plus which keys are relative to each other (major and minor).

We also explain how to write key signatures correctly in the four main clefs, treble clef, bass clef, alto clef and tenor clef. The position of the sharps/flats on the stave and their order is important to get right!

Finally we look at a quick and painless way to work out what key a piece is in. You'll need to be able to do this both in the composition question (where you need to know what key the piece is that you are writing) and also in the big score questions, where you are sometimes asked to identify the beginning key of a piece and later key changes (or "modulations").

For more information see

[deriknicolai]

I like your way of explaining, and what I loved is copying the letters in the tables, I never used that with my students; I use a different method. Many thanks.

[newwelch]

This was very well explained and helpful. Many thanks.

[adamblancas]

Thank you so much. I'm teaching myself piano, and you've been a huge help! And I like your British accent.

[musicstate]

Not sure I agree about the part where you are detecting whether a piece is a the major or the relative minor key. In the minor example the C# also belongs to the key of E. How I would detect the difference is if the 5th note of the major is B then it's major, if it is B# then it is the relative minor since the B# is the leading note of C#m. Where it all falls down is when neither the B or B# note is used in the piece of music. In that instance I use my ears to detect whether the piece is in a major or minor key. Other tips I use is if I spot # and b or double sharps in a piece then it is likely to be in a minor key. This works for the exercise world and not necessarily for the real world of music. Very good website btw! :-)

[magicskydaddy]

thank you so much, i’m doing my exam to day and previously struggled with these

[kinojohn]

Thank you Victoria Williams! I just did my Grade 5 Theory exam today! Your videos have been greatly appreciated...

[lindahan]

Thank you so much I’m having a grade five test soon

[hannatherese]

You can also count up 3 from minor to major visa versa

[Summer-wgvr]

Thanks so much for this video, it grilled me with my college course😂😂

[TheUrbanmeister]

It takes skill to 'simple'. This was a very helpful, and skilful video. Thank you.

[brendanedwardbyrne]

omg thx. I've got my music exams soon and these are super helpful

[potaytophile]

Oh my god this video is a great help! Thanks!

[jackreason]

Wow! This is an ingenious method! Thanks a lot!

[cartermendoza]

this helped a lot! I like the tricks and now I will be able to do well on my test! thank you!

[JammyGit]

I used to be able to read music back when i was in the school orchestra 30 or so years ago, but typically i quit music as i became a teenager and i've forgotten most of what i learnt back then. I always kept playing my guitar and bass but not by reading music, and as i've got into home recording, it'd be handy if i could work out the time signatures of my favourite songs so i can accurately use backing rhythm tracks etc....but i can't seem to find any such videos at the mo. I kind of get your jist but it's a little bit too advanced for my current skill level.

[raseshgandhi]

Thank you so much for your information

[bransby]

Why was I not notified that you were doing these Vic?? Great video, going to watch all the others now!

[cozz]

Look up vid on how to read key signatures, do the backwards

[markE]

An informative video, thank you.

So 5 flats could either be Db or Bbm?

[AnnetteMurphyger]

Thank you Victoria. Have uou any Grade 3/4 theory? Found this Level a bit high for me. I use the Circle of Fifths and use the rhyme Father Charlss goes. Not down and ends battle.. Not at alto chef yet.