Key Signature Chart
While trying to think of a way to help my students learn key signatures better, I thought of my elementary school days when our entire class daily chanted our phonics charts and multiplication table charts. Those sounds and facts were drilled into me and I will never forget them! It occurred to me that perhaps a Key Signature Chart could serve the same purpose. So I decided to create one so that I can give it a try.
The chart is designed so that one side has all the sharp keys and the other side has all the flat keys. My plan is to have my students say, “This is the key signature of C Major and a minor. It has no sharps and no flats.” Another example would be, “This is the key signature of B Major and g-sharp minor. It has five sharps - F#,C#,G#,D#,A#.” I thought it might also be helpful to have a blank chart to test students on their knowledge once they’ve learned all the key signatures. Here are the various key signature files I created that are available to download and print for free (the larger size can be used as a wall poster; the smaller size can be placed in the front of a student assignment book):
Key Signature Chart - 11×17″
Key Signature Chart - 8.5×11″
Key Signature Chart-Blank - 11×17″
Key Signature Chart-Blank - 8.5×11″
February 15th, 2008 at 12:09 am
Ooooh, I really like this and I’m definitely going to use it for some of my piano students! Thank you very much for sharing so many wonderful teaching ideas in this blog!
February 15th, 2008 at 12:25 am
You’re welcome, Cathrine! I’m glad you like it!
February 15th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Are you familiar with the acronym for remembering the order of sharps: “Ford Cards Go Dead At Every Bump?” 3 sharps in the key signature? Ford Cars Go - F#, C#, G#.
Using that has been helpful for my students. In particular, young trumpet players have a hard time identifying the G# in key signatures because they aren’t used to reading notes that high.
February 15th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
I haven’t heard that one. The one I heard and have used with my students is: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle. The flats, of course, are reversed: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles Father.
They get a kick out of it!
February 16th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
What a fantastic gem! Also, I never learned those saying for sharps. For flats I always learned BEAD Good Clean Fun. Thanks for this!