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Key signatures
Pick a key signature to see it on the treble and the bass clef, with the major and the minor key that use it.
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What a key signature is
The key signature is the group of sharps or flats written at the start of each line of music, right after the clef. It tells you which notes are raised or lowered throughout the piece, so they don't have to be marked every time. Each signature belongs to one major key and to its relative minor.
The order of sharps and flats
Sharps are always added in the same order: F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ E♯ B♯, each one a fifth above the one before. Flats come in the reverse order: B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ C♭ F♭, each one a fourth above the one before. A key with two sharps always has F♯ and C♯; one with three flats, B♭, E♭ and A♭.
How to name the key from the signature
- Sharps: the last sharp is the seventh note of the major key, so the key is a half step above it. With F♯ C♯ G♯ the last sharp is G♯, and the key is A major.
- Flats: the second-to-last flat names the major key. With B♭ E♭ A♭ it's E♭ major. One flat (B♭) is F major.
- Minor: the relative minor is three half steps below the major key: A major and F♯ minor share the signature with three sharps.
All key signatures
| Key signature | Accidentals | Major key | Minor key |
|---|---|---|---|
| no sharps or flats | — | 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 |
Frequently asked questions
How many sharps are in D major?
Two: F♯ and C♯. B minor uses the same key signature.
Which keys have flats in the key signature?
F (1 flat), B♭ (2), E♭ (3), A♭ (4), D♭ (5), G♭ (6) and C♭ major (7), and their relative minors: D, G, C, F, B♭, E♭ and A♭ minor.
Why are there 15 key signatures and not 12?
Because three keys can be written two ways with the same sound: B major (5 sharps) and C♭ major (7 flats), F♯ major (6 sharps) and G♭ major (6 flats), C♯ major (7 sharps) and D♭ major (5 flats).