Key Signatures

When a key has sharps or flats, it is notated on the staff at the beginning of each line as a key signature.

Treble G maj

A key signature tells the player which notes are to be sharpened or flattened throughout the piece. It includes those notes across all octaves, not just the note where the key signature is placed. This is to avoid the use of accidentals written before the note in every bar.

The key signature is a set placement of sharps or flats and must be written the same way all the time. There is no variation so it must be memorised.

Major Key Signatures with Sharps for Treble Clef

G Major

Treble G maj

 

 

 

D Major

Treble D maj

A Major

Treble A maj

 

 

 

E Major

Treble E maj

 

 

 

B Major

Treble B maj

 

 

 

F# Major

Treble F# maj

 

 

 

C# Major

Treble C# maj

 

 

 

Major Key Signatures with Flats for Treble Clef

F Major

Treble F maj

 

 

 

Bb Major

Treble Bb maj

 

 

 

Eb Major

Treble Eb maj

 

 

 

Ab major

Treble Ab maj

 

 

 

Db Major

Treble Db maj

 

 

 

Gb Major

Treble Gb maj

 

 

 

Cb Major

Treble Cb maj

 

 

 

Key Signatures for Bass Clef

To write your key signatures for bass clefyou follow the same order of sharps and the same placement but shift the key signature down a line/space.

G Major – Treble Clef

Treble G maj

G Major – Bass Clef

Bass G maj

 A common mistake for key signatures for bass clef with 5 or more sharps, is to place the A# on the top line, but that is wrong to do so.

Following the above process, A# will always go in the bottom space for bass clef key signatures.

Bass B maj

 

Scales – Key Signatures Part 1