Sharps

and Flats
When thinking about sharps and flats and tones and semitones etc, it may be useful to visualise an
instrument - particularly for those who already play. Below are images of piano keyboards and
guitar fretboards, in each case, there is a blank version and one which has been annotated with
pitch names. Please feel free to download these images and use them to help you think about tones
and semitones etc.

PIANO:

GUITAR:

D Major scale example:

In the video, we ask you to try to build D major. Clearly, we need to start on D and apply the
pattern TTSTTTS - the image below illustrates this and it also shows us that this scale requires an
F# and a C#:

Keys and Key Signatures

Key Signatures:
In the video we talked about the fact that key signatures are very useful in helping with the
appearance of written music. The following is the tune 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' written in the
key of B (5 sharps) without a key signature. Although this is a very simple melody, you can see that
writing sharps in front of the notes that need them makes the music look messy and difficult to
follow - particularly if you were sight reading this music.