Method Book Volume One - Key Signature
Understanding Key Signatures
When you first start reading music, you may notice a group of sharps (♯) or flats (♭) at the beginning of a piece of music. These symbols are called the key signature.
A key signature tells you which notes should normally be played sharp or flat throughout the music. Instead of writing a sharp or flat next to the same note every time it appears, the composer can simply put that information at the beginning of each line of music.
The key signature is a set of instructions that stays in effect while you play.
What Does a Key Signature Look Like?
The key signature appears near the beginning of the staff, just after the clef. It may contain sharps (♯), flats (♭), or no sharps or flats at all.
For example, the key of C Major has no sharps or flats. If you play a C Major scale, the notes are:
C D E F G A B C
The key of G Major, however, has one sharp: F♯. Its scale is:
G A B C D E F♯ G
Because F♯ is already shown in the key signature, the music usually does not need to place a sharp symbol next to every F.
Sharps and Flats in a Key Signature
Key signatures can have anywhere from zero to seven sharps or flats. The sharps and flats always appear in the same order.
Order of sharps:
F♯ – C♯ – G♯ – D♯ – A♯ – E♯ – B♯
Order of flats:
B♭ – E♭ – A♭ – D♭ – G♭ – C♭ – F♭
You do not need to memorize all of these right away. As you play music in different keys, they will gradually become more familiar.
Key Signature Chart
The chart below shows the key signatures used in major keys. We have also included the relative minor key for each one.
A major key and its relative minor use the same key signature. For example, C Major and A Minor both have no sharps or flats.
| Major Key | Key Signature | Sharps or Flats | Relative Minor |
|---|---|---|---|
| C Major | None | None | A Minor |
| G Major | 1 Sharp | F♯ | E Minor |
| D Major | 2 Sharps | F♯, C♯ | B Minor |
| A Major | 3 Sharps | F♯, C♯, G♯ | F♯ Minor |
| E Major | 4 Sharps | F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯ | C♯ Minor |
| B Major | 5 Sharps | F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ | G♯ Minor |
| F♯ Major | 6 Sharps | F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯ | D♯ Minor |
| C♯ Major | 7 Sharps | F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯ | A♯ Minor |
| F Major | 1 Flat | B♭ | D Minor |
| B♭ Major | 2 Flats | B♭, E♭ | G Minor |
| E♭ Major | 3 Flats | B♭, E♭, A♭ | C Minor |
| A♭ Major | 4 Flats | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭ | F Minor |
| D♭ Major | 5 Flats | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭ | B♭ Minor |
| G♭ Major | 6 Flats | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭ | E♭ Minor |
| C♭ Major | 7 Flats | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭ | A♭ Minor |
What Does This Mean When You Are Playing?
Before you begin a piece of music, take a moment to look at the key signature. If you see a sharp or flat there, remember that it normally applies to every note with that letter name, no matter which octave it is in.
For example, if the key signature contains an F♯, every F should normally be played as F♯ unless the music tells you otherwise.
Before you start playing a song, look at the key signature and say the sharps or flats to yourself. For example: “This piece has B♭ and E♭.” Doing this before you play can prevent a lot of mistakes.
What If a Note Changes Temporarily?
Sometimes a composer wants you to play a note differently from what the key signature tells you. In that case, you may see a sharp (♯), flat (♭), or natural (♮) written directly beside a note.
These symbols are called accidentals. They temporarily change the note even if the key signature says something different.
Do I Need to Memorize Every Key Signature?
No! If you are just beginning, there is no need to memorize the entire chart.
Start with the keys you encounter most often in your music. Over time, you will begin to recognize common key signatures automatically.
The important thing right now is simply to understand what a key signature does: it tells you which notes are normally sharp or flat in a piece of music.
A Quick Review
- A key signature appears near the beginning of the staff.
- It tells you which notes should normally be sharp or flat.
- C Major and A Minor have no sharps or flats.
- A key can have up to seven sharps or seven flats.
- Major keys and their relative minor keys share the same key signature.
- You do not need to memorize every key signature when you are first starting.
As you continue learning and playing more songs, key signatures will become much easier to recognize. For now, simply remember to check the key signature before you begin playing.