I'm currently taking the ABRSM piano test, grade 6, this year. So far, everything is looking good (songs, sightreading, etc.). However, I noticed that when it comes to the scales, I tend to take a long time to remember the key signature for minor scales. I already memorized all of the major scale key signatures.
For example, if I have to play a harder minor scale, like C sharp minor melodic, it definitely takes me more than 5 seconds to get ready to play. My process is: I go up a minor third, use that key signature (in this case, it would be E major), count up to the sixth and seventh notes, raise those notes, and by the time I'm ready to play, I totally forget which notes to raise and what the key signature is, especially if it's a melodic minor and I have a different key signature for ascending and descending.
Do you have any tips on how to speed up my process when it comes to minor scales? Should I just have an entirely different process?
Also, the reason it is so easy for me to memorize the major scale key signatures is because I remember the "design." I remember how the scale "looks," almost. For example, for F sharp major scale, I can visually see all of the black keys, the F key, and the B key. Each major scale almost has a little "rhyme," almost. I'm a visual person, so this method really works for me when it comes to major scale key signatures. Could I possibly incorporate something visual into my minor scale process, like a jingle or rhyme?