Finding out which keys contain how many sharps or flats

There is a help called a Circle of Fifths to find out how many sharps and flats there are in a major or minor piece! I won't post that, but tell you how to find out if you don't have a circle of fifths handy. Basically it goes like this:

0# = C Major = no sharps or flats (so long as you remember this, then the rest is simple)

1# = G Major - from C (no sharps to 1# count 5 = C D E F G )

2# = D Major - now you know G has one # count 5 to find the scale with 2#s (G A B C D)

3# = A Major - (D E F G A)

4# = E Major - (A B C D E)

5# = B Major - (E F G A B)

6# = F# Major - (B C D E F#)

7# = C# Major - (F# G A B C#)


To find out how many flats (b) count the 4th note

0b = C Major

1b = F Major (C D E F)

2b = Bb Major (F G A Bb) (you just have to remember it's a Bb Major)

3b = Eb Major (Bb C D Eb)

4b = Ab Major (Eb F G A)

5b = Db Major (Ab Bb C Db)

6b = Gb Major (Db Eb F Gb)

7b = Cb Major (Gb Ab Bb Cb)

There is a pattern there as well - F contains 1b which is Bb - the next note along; Bb Major contains Bb and Eb - wow the next note along in the order of flats and so on!) Thanks to my flute buddy Kerina for showing me that pattern!

The order of sharps and flats can be remembered by saying this little ditty (thanks to my flute teacher, Deborah for this)

Order of Flats:
Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles Father

Order of Sharps:
Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

Therefore if you have a piece with 3 sharps and you're not sure what they are - refer to this ditty! 3#s would be F# C# and G#. 6# would be F# C# G# D# A# E#. 1 # would be F# 

Notice how the Sharps go backwards to the flats (hint if you don't get what I mean - read the ditty for the flats backwards and that's the order for the sharps!)