If you work your way around the 'circle of fifths' you work your
may through all the major scales. For example, starting with C
major if we add one sharp, F#, we get G major. Adding a second
sharp, C#, gives us D major and a third, G#, A major. The way
English speaking music students remember this is with the
mnemonic: Father Charles goes down and ends battle (N.B. Going
the other way, adding flats, follows the mnemonic "Battle ends
and down goes Charles' father".) What is the history of this
mnemonic?