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Key Signatures
Each of the twelve major scales is unique in the number of sharp or flat notes the scale contains.
For example, C major is comprised of the notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. We can see that the C major scale (or we could say the “key of C”) contains no sharp or flat notes. This is what we call the key signature. Each key signature only contains sharp notes or flat notes or none at all, as in the case of C major.
The key of G (G major scale) consists of the following notes: G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G. The key signature of G has 1 sharp.
If you were to write out all the major scales you would get twelve unique key signatures. Here are some examples:
|
Key |
Number of Sharps or Flats |
Sharp or Flat notes |
|
C |
0 |
|
|
G |
1 sharp |
F# |
|
D |
2 sharps |
F#, C# |
|
A |
3 sharps |
F#, C#, G# |
|
E |
4 sharps |
F#, C#, G#, D# |
|
F |
1 flat |
Bb |
When determining the notes in the major scales, make sure that you use each letter. If you don’t your key signature will be wrong. For example in the key of F, you may be inclined to use these letters: F, G, A, A#, C, D, E, F.
That would be wrong. The correct notes are: F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F.
Can you see how the first example used the letter A twice and B was not represented?
