![]() ![]() Each tonic is written as a whole note on the staff after the key signature. The keys are arranged by increasing number of sharps or flats. From there, the sharp keys progress clockwise around the spiral, and the flat keys progress counterclockwise. In this representation, the key of C major is at the top of the spiral. We can therefore arrange the tonics of the keys in a succession of fifths, with C major (the key with no sharps or flats) in the middle, and progressing upwards by fifth (to the right in the figure below) through the sharp keys, and downwards by fifth (to the left in the figure below) through the flat keys: In this way, adding a sharp has the same effect as subtracting a flat, and vice versa. In the flat keys, as we add each new flat to a key signature the tonic moves down a fifth. In the sharp keys, as we add each new sharp to a key signature the tonic moves up a fifth. For now - while we’re only working with major keys - seeing a key signature will automatically tell you where the tonic has been moved. For example, the one-sharp signature places the half steps at B–C and F#–G, moving the tonic for the major scale to G. The sharps or flats in a key signature rearrange the positions of the whole and half steps in the staff in order to move the tonic. For example, if we move the tonic to G, we say we are in the key of G major. As we learned in the previous unit, when we move the tonic to a new pitch, we say that we are in the key of that new pitch. ![]()
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