Understanding Key Signatures
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Understanding Key Signatures posters
These Understanding Key Signatures posters are a 2 page step-by-step analysis of identifying any major or minor key signature, and how to use the circle of 5ths to see the big picture (order of sharps and flats, and how they overlap as more accidentals are added). You can choose a B & W pdf for TC or BC (sorry viola players), or print both pages of the TC or BC color posters.
Treble Clef
- B/W pdf VERSION <–
- color jpeg version –> Pg 1 Pg 2
Bass Clef
- B/W pdf VERSION <–
- color jpeg version–> Pg 1 Pg 2
- To understand and identify sharp key signatures – count up one line or space from the last sharp. The letter name of that line or space is the root/name of that key. Go down a line or space you get the relative minor.
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To understand and identify the key when there are flats in the key signature, the second last flat (from the right) is the root of that key. Another way to identify the root is to count down 4 lines and spaces from the last flat.
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If there are no sharps or flats in the key signature, the music is in the key of C or atonal.
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Key signatures are cumulative. Once a note is made flat or sharp, it remains raised or lowered through all subsequent flat or sharp keys.
- Once key signatures are established, a piece with no added accidentals written is Diatonic – all within that key/scale.
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