Music · Rung 13 of 14

Key signatures

The sharps and flats at the start, after the clef, that hold for the whole piece. They are not arbitrary: they come from the circle of fifths. Going up in fifths from C (C, G, D, A, E) adds one sharp each time, always in the same order (F, C, G, D, A). Going down in fifths (C, F, B♭, E♭) adds a flat, in the reverse order. And each key signature serves two keys: a major one and its relative minor, a minor third below.

Where this sits

Comes after
The staff

Exercises from this rung

Generated by the app, from easiest to hardest

  1. Which major key has 2 sharps?

    • D major
    • E♭ major
    • G major
    • E major

    Why D major has 2 sharps, and shares its signature with B minor, its relative minor. It comes from the circle of fifths: going up in fifths from C adds one sharp each time.

    easier

  2. What is the key signature of E major?

    • 4 sharps
    • no accidentals
    • 3 flats
    • 4 flats

    Why E major has 4 sharps, and shares its signature with C♯ minor, its relative minor. It comes from the circle of fifths: going up in fifths from C adds one sharp each time.

    in between

  3. Which major key has 4 sharps?

    • E major
    • E♭ major
    • G major
    • A major

    Why E major has 4 sharps, and shares its signature with C♯ minor, its relative minor. It comes from the circle of fifths: going up in fifths from C adds one sharp each time.

    harder