Finding the Tonic Note in a Minor Key with Sharps

To find the tonic note (also called the key or key tone) for a minor scalekey signature with sharps,count three
half steps below the major tonic note, or name the note a whole step below the last sharp.

Notice:

• The tonic note may be affected by the key signature. In the first example with three sharps, the F is sharped
  owing to the F sharp in the key signature. In the second example with four sharps, the C is sharped owing
  to the C sharp in the key signature.


• On the staff, if the major tonic note is written on a line, the minor tonic note is also written on a line (F
  sharp minor and A major). Or both major and minor tonic notes may be written on spaces (C sharp minor
  and E major). However, the tonic note may be drawn in any octave as shown below.

Below is a chart showing the key signatures for A minor and the seven minor scales with sharps. Notice:

• The order of the sharps is the same as for the major scales with sharps (F#C#G#D#A#E#B#).

217

MINOR SCALE

F sharp minor

?#

#

A major

Tonic relatives drawn on LINES

w w

C sharp minor

?#

#

#

#

E major

Tonic relatives drawn on SPACES

w w

E minor

?#

G major

(two tonics)

w w

w

&

?

&

?

&

?

&

?

&

?

&

?

&

?

&

?

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

# #

#

#

A minor E minor B minor F minor

C minor G minor D minor A minor