A minor
The key signature of A minor has no sharps or flats. Its relative major is C major. Its
tonic major is A major. The natural minor scale of A minor consists of the notes A, B, C,
D, E, F, G and A. Bach wrote a violin concerto in A minor as did Vivaldi (no. 6). The
Mendelssohn ‘Scottish’ symphony, Mahler symphony no. 6, Sibelius symphony no. 4
and Saint-Saens ‘Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso’ are all in the key of A minor.
Some piano pieces in A minor:
Mozart: ‘Rondo alla Turca’ from Sonata K 331
Mozart: Rondo K 386
Beethoven: Für Elise WoO 59
Schumann: Piano concerto opus 54
Chopin: Bolero opus 19
Grieg: Piano concerto opus 16
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini for piano and orchestra opus 43
Moszkowski: Caprice Espagnole opus 37
B flat major
The key signature of B flat major has two flats. Its relative minor is G minor. Its tonic
minor is B flat minor. The scale of B flat major has the following notes: B flat, C, D, E
flat, F, G, A and B flat.
Some piano pieces in B flat major:
Mozart: Sonata K 313
Beethoven: Sonatas opus 22 and opus 106 ‘Hammerklavier’
Schubert: Impromptu opus 142 D 935 and Sonata D 960
Brahms: ‘Handel’ Variations opus 24 and Piano concerto no. 2 opus 83
Prokofiev: Sonata no. 7 opus 83 (including the Toccata)
A sharp minor (B flat minor)