Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music

22: Unlock the Secret of Key Signatures

Example 22.4 The keys of G and B.

Construct a Sharp Key

If you reverse the process, you can construct a sharp key. Again, three

easy steps.

1 Take the name of the key you want and go to the sharp note a half step

below the key note. For example, if you want to find the key of D, go

down a half step to C#.

2 Find out where that note is in the order of sharps. In our example, C# is

the second sharp (F C G D A E B), so there are two sharps in the key of

D.

3 Put the sharps in the correct order on the right line or space and you’ve

got it.

The Key of C

This is the only key signature you have to memorize. Because there are

no sharps or flats with this key, there is no quick way to figure out what

the key signature is. But if you know the C major scale, you know that

there are no sharps or flats in the scale. You can see the key of C on the

next page

The Key of G:

1/2 step up from F# is G.

The Key of B:

1/2 step up from A# is B