Core Location: Theory and Mapping
Also included in the Nucleus.
Remembering which tones are in which keys can be challenging. Let's make it easy with "Lines of 7". Along with the Circle of 5ths, we have enough information to commit the key signatures to memory, quickly.
This is a memory tool for Major keys, which can provide a faster way to memorize the number of sharps (♯) & flats (♭) in every key & what those sharps & flats are in those keys.
Using this system, we can see that the keys of the same letter name [e.g. D & D♭] have a total of 7 sharps & flats. When sharps & flats are added together from 2 keys with the same first letter, they always equal 7 [♯ + ♭ = 7].
Examples: the key of C has zero sharps &/or flats; the key of C♯ has 7 sharps & the key of C♭ has 7 flats. The key of E has 4 sharps; the key of E♭ has 3 flats.
The order of accidentals (♯/♭) are in the middle box above. Sharps & flats are 'added' in the opposite order [Sharps: F-C-G-D-A-E-B & Flats: B-E-A-D-G-C-F ].
The other essential thing to know is that for a root of the same letter name (the pairs above), what is sharped in one key is what is natural in the other. Or, what is flatted in one key is natural in the other. They are 'opposites'.