h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Every piece of music is in a given 'key' - this basically defines which notes can be used in the music. But in every key except C major (and A minor) some of the notes will be a semitone higher or lower than normal - sharps are higher, flats are lower.

At the start of each line of music (although some pieces just have it on the first line) is the 'key signature'. This tells the player what notes are sharps or flats. However, there is a musically correct order to write the sharps/flats.

So for sharp key signatures, remember: 'Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle', and for flat signatures: 'Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles' Father'

The initial letters spell the order to write the sharps/flats. (note that very few key sigs use 7 sharps/flats - in fact, there is no real reason to use more than 5)

An then there's "Every Good Boy Deserves Apples" for the lines on a Treble clef, and FACE foe the spaces.

I can't remember if there's one for the Bass, but I can remember GBDAC and ACEG without one for some reason.

The strings on my cello were CGDA
Camels Go Dancing Alone

As to the keys, the following works in German [if I may...]

The b-sequence is G-D-A-E-H-F which can be remembered by
'Geh du alter Esel Heu fressen' (literally: Ye olde donkey, go and eat hay)

The #-keys are F-B-E-A-D-G:
'Frische Brötchen essen alte Damen gern' (literally: old ladies like to eat fresh rolls)


Um.. or did I just mess up the 'b' and '#' ?

djryan

The lines on the treble clef are EGBDF

So it is 'Every Good Boy Deserves Food'

As for the Bass clef I learnt

Good Boys Don't Frighten Animals

and tying in with the animal theme

All Cats Enjoy Games

Oh, p#4 hidden?

That was me, and obviously it's the monoglotts mods shift

Or was it

All Cows Eat Grass for the spaces on the bass clef.

Both work but this one brings more memories.

But also to remember the progression of the sharps as you add them]

Father Charles goes down and ends battle.


And the flats is reveresed

Battle ends and down goes Charle's father.

See, I remember my choir teacher going on about how
Birds Eaten After Dinner Give Cats Fit for the order of sharps in key signatures
and flats were
Fat College Girls Don't Always Eat Bacon

not exactly PC, now it is?

Bass Clef spaces are All Cows Eat Grass and lines I can't fully remember.

Oh, and to learn the rivers in texas east to west minus the Canadian, Rio Grande and Sabine is

Never Try Buying Cheap Golden Spurs From Northern People.
(Neches, Trinity, Brazos, Colorado, Guadalupe, San Antonio, Frio, Nueces, and Pecos)

Whew, it's been 4 years since I've even thought about that mnemonic...

Shanana

all this Charles' father stuff is giving me the shakes like I used to have in music classes more than 20 years ago!

We had Every Good Boy Deserves Favours (as in the Moody Blues album of the same name) instead of Food for the F

Hey I was a fat kid maybe the teacher was being mean, but I was only 6 and didn't realise.

I see someone beat me to it. Oh well...

Hey DD!

Before you wrote post #8, did you read my first post...?

Must have missed it Justin. Ah well great minds and all.

Truly great minsd

Nice pnemonic, except you have it backwards. F major has a b flat key signature, and g major has an f sharp key signature.

A good mnemonic for FCGDAEB is :

Fat Cats Go Down Alleys Eating Birds