As discussed in the previous topic, scales represent a pitch collection, centered around a tonic pitch. Because we can transpose these pitch collections to center around any pitch-class, we create twelve unique pitch centers – called keys – and even more if we include enharmonic equivalents. Because writing accidentals for many of these keys would be clunky and difficult to read, we use a system of key signatures to give the performer a simple way of knowing which pitches in the key are raised and lowered.
The structure of key signatures relates to the very nature of diatonic harmony. This music is built around perfect intervals, and as we discussed in our topic on scales, the one non-perfect 4th/5th in the major scale is the one that creates the tension necessary to accentuate the tonic and therefore creates our tonal system. Because of this non-perfect interval, key signatures follow a very simple pattern that can be reversed whether you are raising or lowering pitches.
In the examples below, you will find sets of three keys. Use these to find:
Please note that any scale that shares a tonic note is considered to be one key. Even though this may contradict your intuitive thoughts, this means that G major and G minor are considered the same key! Instead, we call them modes of each other, not different keys. The explanation for this terminology is best left for once we have more tools to examine it, but for now, practice using the correct terminology to avoid a confusing “re-learning” moment later in the course.
Use these examples to determine the order of sharps. Pay particular attention to which scale degrees are affected in each key as sharps are added. Is it the same scale degree in each key? How is this related to the tonic? If you continue the pattern, are you able to discern the name of the next key and which accidentals are added? You should also be able to determine the relationship between a major key and its parallel and relative minors.
Use these examples to determine the order of flats. Pay particular attention to which scale degrees are affected in each key as flats are added. Is it the same scale degree in each key? How is this related to the tonic? If you continue the pattern, are you able to discern the name of the next key and which accidentals are added? You should also be able to determine the relationship between a major key and its parallel and relative minors.
While memorizing the all key signatures is an important skill, we also can use the examples above to try to understand “how” key signatures effect keys.
The division of the octave into twelve parts is our brains’ interpretations of a simple mathematical phenomenon. When the frequency of a soundwave doubles, our brains hear those two frequencies as sharing some fundamental commonality, so it interprets those two pitches as the “same” but separated by an octave. Therefore, octaves always have a 2:1 ratio. (A110, A220, A440, and A880 are all A separated by octaves.) The next two simplest ratios ares a 3:2 ratio and a 4:3 ratio, which create a perfect 5th and a perfect 4th respectively.
The importance of these ratios is most easily observed in the circle of fifths. If you begin on any pitch-class and begin moving by ascending perfect 5ths (or 4ths), you will find yourself back at the beginning after cycling through all twelve pitch-classes. We call this the circle of fifths.
C - G - D - A - E - B - F-sharp - C-sharp - G-sharp - D-sharp/E-flat - B-flat - F - C
Perhaps more important for our discussion, though, is what happens when we introduce a non-perfect 5th into the pattern. If we begin on a pitch-class and begin moving through ascending perfect 5ths, each new perfect 5th will move us to a new letter. After seven letters, we will begin repeating letters but adding accidentals to them as seen in the circle of fifths above. If, however, we alter the last perfect 5th by a half-step to create a diminished 5th, we can break the pattern and shortcut to the end.
C - G - D - A - E - B - F - C
This slight change creates the necessary tension for keys to function diatonically, so diatonic function could be described as a slight imperfection on an otherwise perfect series of intervals.
This can be further shown by looking at the naturally occuring intervals if we write diatonic 5ths above the notes of a major scale.
When we begin exploring harmonic function in Unit 6, the tension provided by the one non-perfect 5th and its subsequent release will become obvious.
Key signatures reflect the importance of the one non-perfect interval. When studying the consecutive key signatures on the previous page, I asked the students to focus on which scale degree is changed between consecutive keys. The class came up with two rules:
ti.fa.This directly reflects how diatonic function works; if we change where the one non-perfect 5th occurs, we change the key. We did not need to spend time determining the order of sharps and flats, because the class was already familiar with this from previous courses. It did not surprise them that circle-of-fifths plays a critical role in defining diatonic function and key signatures. The two orders are simply the reverses of each other.