Many of you are familiar with the Circle of 5ths or Circle of Keys. I always had a problem constructing the circle from memory. I recently came across a nice discussion on a piano website that used two phrases to help remember the letters around the circle.
When constructing the Circle place C at the top for C Major. The order of the notes going to the right (sharp side) is F-C-G-D-A-E-B (the F goes to the left of the C at the top of the circle).
To help remember the order memorize the phrase Father Charles Goes Down and ends battle (F-C-G-D-A-E-
.
On the Left side (flat)the The order of the notes is the same pharase only recited backwards (Battle Ends down goes Charles father (B-E-A-D-G-C-F).
At the bottom of the Cicle follow through and right the equivalent flat to the sharps stated.
What's kind of neat is that both sentances make gramatical sense. You can memorize it pretty easitly if you visualize a priest piolting an airplane.
Play with it and you will see how it works. I think this is quite cool. It is also easier to remember than explain