Something really made sense today - I'm so excited :) :)

[pianopuppy]

Something amazing happened to me today   I was working through my book on how to play piano, and today I got to a section about Key Signatures. 

The book first of all told me that "The order of sharp keys goes up in fifths.  From Middle C on your piano, the 5th above is the note G".  I didn't really understand what was meant by 'the order of sharp keys' but the part about G being 5 up from C made sense.
 
Then the book shows a picture of a key signature and underneath it said "The minute you see this Key Signature you should deduce the following -
There is one sharp in the key signature, F#. 
The number 1 sharp key is called G major. 
Therefore the piece is written in the key of G major."

I read this over and over, but couldn't get the connection as to why a staff showing F as sharp meant the key signature is G major.

I read it again.  And again.  And again.  Each time it still didn't sink in.  But I kept on reading it, over and over.  And then, suddenly, something started to make sense...

I played my G major scale, noting to myself that the only sharp in it was F.  Like on the picture of the staff.  Then I thought again about the 'fifths' thing.  Taking it one step further, I worked out what the second 'fifth' would be - D.  I played the D major scale- this had two sharps in it.  Two sharps - equalling the second major key.

I considered this again. 
One sharp in the G major scale - G major is the number one key.
Two sharps in the D major scale - D major is the number two key.

I read the section in the book again, and realised that I finally understood key signatures!  I'd got it! 

Then I started thinking about a picture I've seen (and been meaning to print out to put on my wall next to the keyboard) called the Circle of Fifths.  I didn't understand this picture when I found it, but I knew it was something important - now I think I get what it's all about.

I feel like I've really achieved something today, something more than just the understanding of key signatures (although that is a big achievement for me) - it's like I've crossed over some sort of subconscious threshold between 'just beginning to learn' and 'having understanding of what I'm really doing'.  Does that make sense to anyone?

I know I have so far to go yet, but this really feels to me like confirmation that I can do this - that I can eventually learn to play piano / keyboard.    (As you can tell, I'm really happy).

I spent a good 30 minutes after this dawning realisation just playing different major scales, realising how many sharps they have in them, and relating this to the number of 'fifth' that each one is.  It's something amazing - how everything on the piano keys seems somehow related.  Like a 'secret code' waiting for me to discover it all.

Anyway, just wanted to share my achievement with you all

[bleicher]

Your post made me smile. It's really exciting when something clicks and you suddenly understand it. Well done. 

[pianopuppy]

Thanks Bleicher for taking the time to reply.

[mcdiddy1]

Thats awesome!...I wish a piano teacher could have shown you that...would have gotter it much earlier

[keyboardclass]

Wait till you discover sonata form!

[bleicher]

Or Schenker!

[vandermozart3]

Wait till you discover sonata form!

ditto!

That's such a good discovery, everything makes sense now congratulations