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

Finding your way in sight reading is a challenge for many. The first thing to do is to know how to read those flats and sharps on the staff. Memorize the order of flats and sharps (BEADGCF and FCGDAEB) This is how the flats and sharps appear on the staff.....in this order. Then in 7 flats....take the last flat: F and go back a flat in the order: C.....so the key is C flat. Play Cflat to octave higher C flat and play all the flats in between that are marked on the staff. Now you can hear the center of the key and are more able to hear the intervals.

Answer 2

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 3

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 4

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.