How do I learn to read music with many sharps and flats?

Question

Sometimes in piano we have to sightread as many as 7 sharps or flats, and it can get incredibly confusing. How do we learn to make it easy? Are there any tips or tricks?

Answer 1

Use Sightreading Materials in All Keys

Books like Four Star, A Dozen a Day in All Keys, or Super Sight Reading Secrets have progressive material in different key signatures.

Don’t avoid the “hard key” pages — lean into them!

Also, learning the Circle of 5ths in and out will definitely help you become more familiar with key signatures like C#, F# etc

Answer 2

Good news-music theory is your friend here! The trick you are looking for is the "circle of fifths". By understanding the order in which flats and sharps are added in a key signature, you can determine what key you are in very quickly. Then, it is a matter of practicing your scales so that the shape of the key you are in falls under your hands easily.

Answer 3

To be able to read music with lots of accidentals, we have to learn the patterns with the specific piece and the key signature. For example, if we are in F-sharp Major, the most common chords we will see might be the I Chord (F-sharp), and the V chord (C-sharp). Learning to recognize these chords really quickly will allow your ear to predict the sound and correct you if your fingers mess up!

It also takes patience from the student - music can be hard, and especially if it is your first time reading double sharps and flats, IS difficult and frustrating.