Key signatures: the chart and two rules to read any of them
A key signature is the group of sharps or flats written right after the clef. It applies to every note with that letter name for the whole piece, and it tells you the key. In this guide, you'll find the complete chart, then two simple rules that let you name any key signature, and finally a quiz to try them out.
| Key signature | Accidentals | Major | Relative minor |
|---|---|---|---|
| none | C major | A minor | |
| 1 sharp: F♯ | G major | E minor | |
| 2 sharps: F♯, C♯ | D major | B minor | |
| 3 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯ | A major | F♯ minor | |
| 4 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯ | E major | C♯ minor | |
| 5 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ | B major | G♯ minor | |
| 6 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯ | F♯ major | D♯ minor | |
| 7 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯ | C♯ major | A♯ minor | |
| 1 flat: B♭ | F major | D minor | |
| 2 flats: B♭, E♭ | B♭ major | G minor | |
| 3 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭ | E♭ major | C minor | |
| 4 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭ | A♭ major | F minor | |
| 5 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭ | D♭ major | B♭ minor | |
| 6 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭ | G♭ major | E♭ minor | |
| 7 flats: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭ | C♭ major | A♭ minor |
Rule 1: sharp keys
Find the last sharp, the one furthest to the right, and go up a half step: that's your major key. If the last sharp is C♯, you're in D major. If it's G♯, you're in A major. And sharps always appear in the same order: F, C, G, D, A, E, B.
Rule 2: flat keys
With flats, the second-to-last flat names the major key. With B♭, E♭ and A♭, for example, you're in E♭ major. Flats always appear in the order B, E, A, D, G, C, F. The only exception is F major, with a single flat, and that one you simply memorize.
Major or minor?
Don't worry if this part takes a little longer to click. Each key signature serves two keys: a major key and its relative minor, a minor third lower. The key signature alone can't tell you which one you're in, so look at the music. A minor piece usually raises its seventh degree with an accidental, like G♯ in A minor, and it ends on the minor tonic.
Method: with sharps, the major tonic is a half step above the last sharp; with flats, it is the second-to-last flat (F major for one flat). The relative minor is a minor third lower.
Each sheet has a number: write it down to get exactly the same sheet again (handy to give a whole class the same homework).
Major : ____________
Minor : ____________
Major : ____________
Minor : ____________
Major : ____________
Minor : ____________
Major : ____________
Minor : ____________
Major : ____________
Minor : ____________
Major : ____________
Minor : ____________
Major : ____________
Minor : ____________
Major : ____________
Minor : ____________
Major : E major
Minor : C♯ minor
Major : B♭ major
Minor : G minor
Major : A♭ major
Minor : F minor
Major : A major
Minor : F♯ minor
Major : F major
Minor : D minor
Major : G major
Minor : E minor
Major : D major
Minor : B minor
Major : E♭ major
Minor : C minor