Key Signatures
All scales except that of C major use at least one accidental. This can be written every time it is needed, just in front of the note it affects. However, it is more convenient to show the accidentals which are "permanent" for a given key, at the beginning of a piece of music.  This is called a Key Signature. The sharps or flats in the key signature rule the whole piece of music, or until a different key signature is specified.   Individual notes which the key signature requires to be a sharp or a flat can be set back to their natural state by a natural sign, which only rules for the bar in which it appears.

The key of G major uses one sharp, namely F#, on the 7th degree of the scale. So the key signature places this on the top line of the treble clef, or on the 4th line of the bass clef, as shown on the left of this screen.

The key of F major needs one flat, which is Bb, on the 4th degree of the scale. In the key signature, this is wriiten on the 3rd line of the treble clef, or the 2nd line of the bass clef, as shown at left.

The key signatures for all the major and minor scales required by your exam and grade, are described and demonstrated on the next series of screens in the learning guide. If you have specified "no exams - advanced level", then all 7 sharp keys and 7 flat keys are shown, for both major and minor.

The accidental symbols must be written on the correct staff lines or spaces,  and in the correct order, as shown in the table below.

Order of sharps Name of note Treble clef position Bass Clef position
1 F# 5th (top) line 4th line
2 C# 3rd space 2nd space
3 G# space above top line 4th space
4 D# 4th line 3rd line
5 A# 2nd space 1st space
6 E# 4th space 3rd space
7 B# 3rd (middle) line 2nd line
Order of flats Name of note Treble clef position Bass Clef position
1 Bb 3rd (middle) line 2nd line
2 Eb 4th space 3rd space
3 Ab 2nd space 1st space
4 Db 4th line 3rd line
5 Gb 2nd line 1st line
6 Cb 3rd space 2nd space
7 Fb 1st space space below bottom line

TheoryMelodyKeySignatures.htm     01/10/06 17:48        MENU -> Theory -> Keys, Scales and Melody -> Key Signatures