How to Understand Key Signatures in Sheet Music

A key signature identifies which key a piece of music is played in, how many sharps or flats there are and what they are. Changing key enables one to maintain the correct tonal distance between notes on a scale while starting the scale from any note. Keys are chosen for, among other reasons, the quality and mood they convey, such as major or minor, or to suit a vocalist's range.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Locate the key signature on the sheet music. The key signature is portrayed as a collection of sharps or flats at the beginning of the staff next to the clef sign.

2. Identify sharps in a key signature. Sharps occur in the order FCGDAEB. Thus if a key has 1 sharp the sharp is F, if it has 2 the sharps are F and C, and so on.

3. Identify flats in a key signature. Like sharps, flats are added to create new keys in a particular order which is BEADGCF.

4. Find the name of a key signature with sharps. Identify the sharp furthest to the right in the key signature; the name of the key is a half step above that sharp. For example, if there are 2 sharps the one furthest to the right is C and this is the key of D.

5. Find the name of a key with flats. Identify the flat second from the far right in the key signature. This flat note is the name of the key. For example, if there are four flats the one second from the right is A flat an this is the key of A flat.

Tips & Warnings

• A diagram called the circle of fifths can be used to keep track of key signatures. Around the outside of the circle are the major keys starting with C major at the top. In an inner circle are the minor keys starting with A minor at the top. Between them are the key signatures showing the number of sharps or flats. The key signatures can indicate a major or a minor key.