I'm now at ForOrchestra.com arranging pop songs for orchestra.

Hi Walt,

Is there some easy way of knowing how to go 6 notes up in the key or do you just have to learn off the notes and their ordering in each key?

Thanks,
Ian

Wel, you can either go up 6 or down 3
C D E F G A is the same as going C B A

Or you can learn every relative minor in each key. They are:

C – A
D – F
E – G
F – A
G – B
A – C
B – D

You’ll get it Ian!

walt, you rock !
thanks for keeping it lucid and lively and not giving up on us!

Hi Walt, thanks so much for getting back to me.

When you say go up six or down 3, does this mean within the notes of the key, you seem to be including sharps/flats when going up 6 notes at the start of the video, but not in the example you provided in your comment. I’m really interesting in learning the notes in various keys, can you recommend a good way to learn these or do people generally just memorize them? For me a good way so far is to think of songs that I know are in the particular key and think of the chords they use.

Thanks,
Ian

Yes – when going up or down I’m referring to the notes in the Key Signature.

So 6 notes up from E in the key of E would be based off of:

E F# G# A B C# D# E

As for memorization. Check out the Circle of Fifths = http://waltribeiro.net/?s=circle+of+fifths&x=0&y=0

Thanks, Walt! :)