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Key signatures
A key signature is the group of sharps or flats at the start of each line. It saves writing the same accidentals throughout the piece.
Order of sharps and flats
Sharps always appear in this order: F C G D A E B. Flats appear in the reverse order: B E A D G C F.
Major and minor keys
| Sharps / flats | Major key | Relative minor |
|---|---|---|
| None | C major | A minor |
| 1 sharp (F♯) | G major | E minor |
| 2 sharps | D major | B minor |
| 3 sharps | A major | F♯ minor |
| 4 sharps | E major | C♯ minor |
| 5 sharps | B major | G♯ minor |
| 1 flat (B♭) | F major | D minor |
| 2 flats | B♭ major | G minor |
| 3 flats | E♭ major | C minor |
| 4 flats | A♭ major | F minor |
| 5 flats | D♭ major | B♭ minor |
Tricks for naming the key
- Sharps: find the last sharp in the signature. The major key is the note one semitone above it. Last sharp C♯ means D major.
- Flats: the major key is the second-to-last flat. Flats B♭ and E♭ mean B♭ major. With one flat, the key is F major.
- Relative minor: go down three semitones (a minor third) from the major key. C major has relative minor A minor.
Practise it
Mustud’s key signature exercise can ask for major keys, minor keys or either, in any clef. It can ask students to name the key from the signature, or write the signature for a named key. See key signature worksheets.
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