This lesson is an overview of all the keys of standard music in regards to the tone scales as well as the chord scales. In any key there is a tonic or one, a starting point if you will; which all notes, tones, scales, chords, etc are based upon. We will begin with the major keys and use the key of C as our example. In any major key, the half step/whole step pattern consists of:
In this diagram the blue numbers are the different scale degrees starting with one (1), the tonic. To conform to a certain key or pattern, the distance from the tonic to the second degree of the scale is a whole step. Remember, a whole step is two half steps combined. Check out the "Guitar Basic Theory" tab for more information about whole and half steps. The distance from the second to the third is a whole step and the distance from the third to the forth is a half step and so on.
Having this knowledge you will better understand the different keys and scales and why there are sharps and flats. You will also understand why the chords in a chord scale are major, minor, seventh (dominant) or half diminished (minor7flat5). To conform the the key, these tones in a chord must shift up and down to fit in any certain key.
Ok, now here are all the keys with their respected chords. Notice all chords are triads with the exception of the fifth and the seventh chord. These alterations further distinquish these powerful chords allowing them to stand out from the major and minor triads. Check out the "Guitar Chords" tab for more information and chord diagrams.
Key of C:
Key of C# (Db):
Key of D:
Key of D# (Eb):
Key of E:
Key of F:
Key of F# (Gb):
Key of G:
Key of G# (Ab):
Key of A:
Key of A# (Bb):
Key of B:
