How many sharps are in the key of E? Which notes are sharp?

Question

The circle of fifths can help you find the answer. Starting from the middle of the circle (C/a) and moving clockwise, you will begin to notice that each new key has one more sharp than the one that came before it on the circle. Each key represented on the circle (moving clockwise) is 5 notes away (P5) from the one that came before it.

You will find that the same thing is true for the flat keys as well. Starting at the middle of the circle (C/a), and moving counter clockwise, each new key added to the circle has one more flat than the key that came before it, except now each new key is now 4 notes away (P4) from the key that came before it.

Answer 1

There are four sharps in the key of E major. Those sharps are F#, C#, G#, and D#. In order to find this out you would need to reference the circle of 4ths or 5ths. Sharps move in fifths on this diagram starting from C moving clockwise. The key of C has no sharps and flats which means, G would be one sharp, D two sharps, A three sharps, and finally E being four sharps. A good way to first visualize past the diagram itself this would be at the piano, so you can physically see the space between these intervals. Also having a good grasp of your major scales can help the process as well by playing up to fourth or fifth note of each scale!

As far as understanding the order of the sharps themselves, there are several ways of thinking about it. A good way of learning these is through mnemonic devices such as “Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle” - this is the order of the sharps. If you read this backwards exactly: “Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father,” this is the order of the flats. If you memorize the principle that sharps move in fifths and flats move in fourths, then you would only need to know the first sharp (F#) or flat (Bb) in order to figure out the rest.

Answer 2

There are 3 basic ways to find out what the accidentals in a scale are and to naming key signatures so that you know what key you are in. You can use the circle of fifths as mentioned above. It is a method that works well and shows how all the Rules & Orders of Sharps & Flats fit together in 1 whole.

Secondly, if you are figuring a sharp scale the new sharp name will be a half step below the names of the key and you keep all of the earlier sharps. Using the Order of Sharps can be a shortcut - see below. If you are figuring a flat key scale, say F Major, you will count up 4 keys beginning on F. This tone will be B. Flat it. that is your last accidental in the Order of Flats Second, all scales have a pattern made up of whole and half steps. A half step is the distance from one key to the next, black or white. Just the very next key. A whole step is made up of 2 half steps or you can think of it as skipping 1 key. The pattern for a Major scale is: WWHWWWH. It looks complicated, but after you have done it a few times it gets much easier, especially if you use the keys on a piano.

Thirdly, you can follow the rules for naming keys. There are 4 that fit together. The order of sharps is Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle - using just the capital letters. The Rule of Sharps is that the name of the key is 1 half step above the last sharp. Therefore if your key signature has 5 sharps, they will be F#, C#, G#, D# & A#. The first 5 sharps in the order of sharps. The name of your key will be a 1/2 step above the final sharp, A#, so your answer is the key of B Major. The Order of Flats is different: BEAD Grows California Flowers, using only the capital letters. The Rule of Flats is also different: When you look at the flats in a key signature, the next to last flat in a key signature IS the name of the key. Therefore, if there are 4 flats they will be the first 4 flats in the Order of Flats: B flat, E flat, A flat & D flat and the name of the key will be A flat. It sounds complicated, but again, once you've done it a few times it gets much easier.

I would recommend learning the Orders of Sharps & Flats and the Rules for naming them as well. It will make life a lot simpler than trying to remember every key signature. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

There are four sharps in the key of E Major. F#, C#, G#, and D#!

Answer 4

4 sharps. F#, G#, C#, and D#.

Answer 5

There are 4 sharps in the key of E. They are F, C, G, and D.