My Set Method for Mastering Songs in All 15 Keys

Executive Summary

I've created the Set Method to provide a structured approach for musicians to master repertoire across all fifteen major and relative minor key signatures, encompassing zero to seven sharps and flats. In this guide, I'll outline the full mechanics of my framework. The method organizes keys systematically by their total number of accidentals to build a comprehensive, symmetrical understanding of the Circle of Fifths.

The primary principle of this method dictates studying key signatures as paired groups. You'll practice a song in a sharp key and its corresponding flat key during the same practice session. Pairing keys with an equal number of accidentals establishes a balanced technical foundation and prevents the common habit of favoring sharp keys over flat keys.

I've divided the curriculum into three progressive tiers known as supersets. The initial superset covers the core inner ring of the Circle of Fifths, ranging from zero to two accidentals. The middle ring encompasses keys with three to five accidentals. The final superset addresses the outer ring and focuses entirely on six and seven-accidental enharmonic keys. A strict prerequisite rule ensures that you've fully internalized and mastered every paired set within your current superset before you advance to the next tier.

Keywords: music theory, practice schedule, Circle of Fifths, key signatures, enharmonic keys, set method, practice methodology, method for learning songs, saxophone mastery

A. Background: How I Came to the Set Method

As I started to learn how to play songs on my alto saxophone, I realized that I needed to develop a systematic process for learning songs. It became apparent that to actually be able to say that I "know" a song, I need to be able to do the following:

1. Sight-read the song in all 15 keys: 0 sharps/flats, 1-7 sharps, and 1-7 flats.
2. Be able to play the song by ear in all 12 audio keys.
3. Ideally, I should also have the song's lyrics and chord changes (in all keys) memorized.

When I perform with bands, I like to have my music scores stored digitally on my Android tablet. However, for learning to sight-read songs, I prefer having physical paper copies of each score that I can highlight and mark up. So I decided that I would start to store my collection of songs in large 4-inch binders. For each song that I learn, I do the following:

1. Print the song in all 15 keys. I typically pick songs that are only one page.
2. Key 00 is always the first one that I print, and Key 00 is always in the key of no sharps/no flats. The Key 00 score goes in a sheet protector by itself.
3. Key 01 (1 sharp) and Key 02 (1 flat) go back-to-back in the same sheet protector.
4. Key 03 (2 sharps) and Key 04 (2 flats) go back-to-back in the same sheet protector.
5. This pattern continues until all 15 keys are in sheet protectors and inserted into my music scores binder.
6. When I practice a song, I practice the 2 keys that are in the same sheet protector together. For example, I learn to play the song in G major / E minor (1 sharp) and F major / D minor (1 flat) during the same practice session.

B. Finding and Mastering Music Scores

One of my primary goals as an alto saxophonist is to one day have the entire Great American Songbook memorized in all 15 sight-reading keys and all 12 audio keys. On MuseScore, I've found an incredible resource that will help me to achieve this goal: a gentleman by the name of Dick Schmitt. Mr. Schmitt is an absolute machine: he's uploaded well over 3,000 scores to MuseScore.com. His scores include jazz standards, great movie songs, classical music pieces, and much more. In other words, the Dick Schmitt repository of scores on MuseScore.com is an excellent tool to learn how to sight-read a lot of songs.

I've bookmarked Dick Schmitt's MuseScore page in my web browser. When I find a song that he's uploaded that I like, I download it and transpose it into all 15 keys for alto saxophone. Then the arduous work of learning the song in all 15 keys begins. I've provided a link to Dick Schmitt's MuseScore.com page in the references section below (Section E).

C. Conclusions

I know that the system works for the following reasons:

1. I play in a large community band: since I've started using this system, my sight-reading ability has dramatically improved.
2. My rhythmic, melodic, harmonic, dynamic, and articulation proficiency have all increased.
3. I've noticed that learning new songs builds confidence.

I have anecdotal evidence that sight-reading a diverse body of music builds musical proficiency. Several years ago, I watched a video of a music-focused conversation between David Sanborn and Christian McBride. I couldn't help but notice the massive bookshelf behind McBride that was full of music binders. The binders were huge and the bookshelf was filled with a seemingly countless number of them: this man has clearly put in a tremendous amount of work studying music scores. That was all that I needed to see: I know for certain that this method works.

I tried to find the video of their conversation, but I couldn't find it on YouTube. I'm pretty sure that it was an episode of "Sanborn Sessions" where McBride was the musical guest. I think that the episode was removed from YouTube due to copyright reasons.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read/watch this article/video!

D. Rules for the Set Method

1. Study the components of a set as a paired group.
   For example, practice a song in the key of G major / E minor (1 sharp) and F major / D minor (1 flat) during the same practice session.
   This builds symmetrical understanding around the Circle of Fifths.
2. Master every set within a superset before you advance. Don't move on to the next superset until the current one is fully internalized.

Superset 0: The Core & Inner Ring

• Set 0: 0 sharps & 0 flats (C major / A minor)
• Set 1: 1 sharp & 1 flat (G major / E minor & F major / D minor)
• Set 2: 2 sharps & 2 flats (D major / B minor & Bb major / G minor)

Superset 1: The Middle Ring

• Set 3: 3 sharps & 3 flats (A major / F# minor & Eb major / C minor)
• Set 4: 4 sharps & 4 flats (E major / C# minor & Ab major / F minor)
• Set 5: 5 sharps & 5 flats (B major / G# minor & Db major / Bb minor)

Superset 2: The Outer Ring (Enharmonic Focus)

• Set 6: 6 sharps & 6 flats (F# major / D# minor & Gb major / Eb minor)
• Set 7: 7 sharps & 7 flats (C# major / A# minor & Cb major / Ab minor)

E. References

[A.] Dick Schmitt (MuseScore.com). Retrieved April 18, 2026 from here. 

ASCII Tree Article Summary