Know The Key Signatures

Key signatures are essentially labels which tell musicians what scale, or scales, a composer used to build a piece of music.

To really know each key, you must know the scale it represents. Thus, keys and scales should be learned together.

Here you will find each key listed with a picture of the major scale and the minor scale it represents. (Right hand fingering for pianists is included.) For more on scales, go to "Piano Scales" .

Once you've learned and mastered the scale for each key, the signature makes more sense. Playing a piece of music becomes easier when you already "know" the key in which it is written.

Some "Tricks" For Figuring Out Key Signatures

Sharp Keys:

-The last sharp listed (going from left to right) is always the 7th note of the major scale. Therefore, naming the note a half-step up from the last sharp will give you the key. (A whole-step down from the last sharp will give you the minor key.)

Flat Keys:

-The next-to-last flat (from left to right) is the key. (This applies to all flat keys, except the key of F which only has one flat.)

Minor keys are always the sixth note of the major scale.

The Keys:

Return from "Key Signatures" to "Piano Scales"