Key signatures at a glance

A key signature tells you which notes are sharp or flat for the whole piece. Missing it is one of the most common sight-reading errors, so make checking it a habit.

The order

Sharps always appear in this order: F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ E♯ B♯. Flats are the reverse: B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ C♭ F♭. A phrase like "Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle" (and the reverse for flats) helps some people.

Naming the major key

• Sharps: the key is one semitone above the last sharp. Last sharp C♯ → D major.
• Flats: the key is the second-to-last flat. Flats B♭ E♭ A♭ → E♭ major. One flat alone is F major.
• Each major key shares its signature with a relative minor three semitones lower (G major / E minor). Check the last bass note and look for a raised 7th (D♯ in E minor) to tell them apart.

Common keys for early reading

Turn it into hand shape

Before you play, put your hand on the keyboard and touch the black keys the key signature asks for. In G major your hand "knows" F♯ is the black key; that physical reminder works better than remembering it mentally mid-phrase. Also watch for accidentals, which last only until the end of the bar.