What are these minor key signatures?

Question

Please tell me how you get these key signatures; Nothing with lower 3, 6, & 7 because I don't get that. I form my own complicated ways of finding out key signatures so don't be afraid to posst your wacko method here.. I'm not sure if I'm doing it correctly, here are the key signatures I need...
All minors:
E F G Bb D Eb
That last one stumped me, I put that there is no accidentals but I don't think that is correct.

Please help.

Answer 1

All natural minor keys are formed from taking the major key and adding 3 flats for example E major has 4 sharps so add three flats and it gets you to 1 sharp. so the E major scale is E F# G A B C D E. F major has 1 flat so its add 3 flats which gets you to four flats. G major has one sharp add 3 flats and you get 2 flats. Bb major has 2 flats add 3 flats = 5 flats. D major has 2 sharps add 3 flats and you will end up with 1 flat Eb major has 3 flats add 3 more flats and you get 6 flats. I hope this helped you have to understand the circle of fifths to understand this concept.

Answer 2

I'm not sure what exactly you're looking for, but I'll do my best.



I won't give you a cheating way because 1) it's not helpful and 2) I'm a professional music teacher and it's against my credo. :)



There is a way to find a minor key signature that works for every major key. Let's take your first example, the key of E minor. In order to find its signature, you need to go a minor third UP, or 3 half-steps. So starting on an "E," a minor third (or 3 half-steps) up is G. The key signature of G Major is.... 1 sharp, right? So, the key signature of E minor is the same, 1 sharp. And since sharps are always in the same order (right?....) it would have to be F sharp. So, the key signature of E minor is one sharp, F#.



Make sense?



This works with any key. For example, a minor third (or three half-steps) up from F is A flat. A flat has 4 flats, and so F minor's key signature is 4 flats (BEAD).



Your last one involves a lot of flats, but the principle is no different. Three half-steps up from Eb is Gb. The key signature for Gb major is a whopping 6 flats, and so it's the same for Eb minor. (BEADGC)

Answer 3

If you know the major scale key signatures, then finding the relative minor is simple. Just count down (3) half steps from the major to find the relative minor. They are relative because they both share the same key signature. As an example, if the key signature is (4) sharps, it can mean either E major or c# minor. You will then need to determine if the the piece is in E major or c# minor by looking at the notes. It is very common for a piece to begin and end in the key.



So if you have the minor key and you want to find the relative major key count (3) half steps up from the minor.



In your question you are listing the minors, so:

e minor would have the same key signature as G major (1#)

f minor would have the same key signature as Ab major (4b)

g minor would have the same key signature as Bb major (2b)

b flat minor would have the same key signature as Db major (5b)

d minor would have the same key signature as F major (1b)

eb minor would have the same key signature as Gb major(6b)

Answer 4

To find a minor key from its signature, find the note a minor third below the tonic of the relative major:



C major--> a minor

F major -->d minor

Bb major--> g minor