| Explanation |
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Write the order of sharps. Eventually, this is all you will need.
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C major has zero sharps. G has 1 sharp. D has 2, A 3, E 4, and B 5.
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| Sharps: | | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| F | C | G | D | A | E | B |
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Continue counting on the other end. Add a # to the letter.
F sharp major has 6 sharps.
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| Sharps: | 6
# | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| F | C | G | D | A | E | B |
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The order of flats is the order of sharps backwards. We number flats backwards.
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C major has zero flats. F major has 1 flat, the first flat.
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| Sharps: | 6
# | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| F | C | G | D | A | E | B |
| Flats: | 1 | 0 |
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Continue counting on the other end. Add a b to each letter.
B flat major has 2 flats. E flat has 3, A flat 4, D flat 5, and G flat 6.
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| Sharps: | 6
# | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| F | C | G | D | A | E | B |
| Flats: | 1 | 0 | b
6 | b
5 | b
4 | b
3 | b
2 |
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