Key Signatures
A key signature chart with all 15 major keys and their relative minors on the treble and bass staff, and a quiz to test yourself.
Tap a key in the chart to hear its major scale. Sharps are always written in the order F C G D A E B, flats in the order B E A D G C F.
How to use the key signature chart
A key signature is the set of sharps or flats at the start of each line of music, and this chart draws all 15 major and minor key signatures on the treble and bass staff, with a key signature quiz to test yourself. The Chart view draws every key signature on a staff, with the major key and its relative minor under each one. Choose Treble and bass, Treble clef or Bass clef with the chips at the top right. Tap a key to hear its major scale. The Quiz view shows one signature at a time, in treble or bass clef, and asks for the major or minor key; tap one of the four answers. Your score, streak and best streak are shown, and the best streak is kept in this browser.
What a key signature is
A key signature is the group of sharps or flats written at the start of every line of music, right after the clef. Each one applies to that note in every octave for the whole piece, unless an accidental or a new key signature changes it. It tells you which notes the key uses: G major uses F#, so its key signature is one sharp on the F line. A key signature never mixes sharps and flats.
All 15 key signatures
There are 15 major keys: C with no sharps or flats, seven sharp keys and seven flat keys. Each has a relative minor with the same signature.
| Major key | Relative minor | Key signature | Sharps or flats |
|---|---|---|---|
| C major | A minor | none | none |
| G major | E minor | 1 sharp | F# |
| D major | B minor | 2 sharps | F# C# |
| A major | F# minor | 3 sharps | F# C# G# |
| E major | C# minor | 4 sharps | F# C# G# D# |
| B major | G# minor | 5 sharps | F# C# G# D# A# |
| F# major | D# minor | 6 sharps | F# C# G# D# A# E# |
| C# major | A# minor | 7 sharps | F# C# G# D# A# E# B# |
| F major | D minor | 1 flat | Bb |
| Bb major | G minor | 2 flats | Bb Eb |
| Eb major | C minor | 3 flats | Bb Eb Ab |
| Ab major | F minor | 4 flats | Bb Eb Ab Db |
| Db major | Bb minor | 5 flats | Bb Eb Ab Db Gb |
| Gb major | Eb minor | 6 flats | Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb |
| Cb major | Ab minor | 7 flats | Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb Fb |
Three pairs sound the same on a piano: B major and Cb major, F# major and Gb major, C# major and Db major. They are enharmonic keys: the same pitches with different names.
The order of sharps and flats
Sharps always appear in the order F C G D A E B, and flats in the reverse order, B E A D G C F. A key with two sharps has F# and C#, never any other two. On the staff they follow a fixed zigzag. In the treble clef the sharps sit on F (top line), C (third space), G (the space above the staff), D (fourth line), A (second space), E (fourth space) and B (middle line). The flats sit on B (middle line), E (fourth space), A (second space), D (fourth line), G (second line), C (third space) and F (first space). In the bass clef each sharp and flat keeps the same pattern, one line or space lower on the staff.
How to name the key from a key signature
- No sharps or flats: C major or A minor.
- Sharps: the key note is a half step above the last sharp. The last of three sharps is G#, so the key is A major.
- Flats: the second to last flat is the key note. Three flats end Bb Eb Ab, so the key is Eb major. With one flat, remember F major.
- Minor: find the major key, then go down three half steps (the 6th note of the major scale). Three flats: Eb major, or C minor.
To tell major from minor in real music, look at the first and last notes and chords, and watch for the raised 7th that minor keys often use. The circle of fifths shows the same keys in a circle, and the piano scales page plays each scale. For your own writing, print some blank staff paper. To find the key of a recording, try the song key finder.
Questions
How many key signatures are there?
Fifteen: C major (no sharps or flats), seven with sharps (1 to 7) and seven with flats (1 to 7). Each is shared by a major key and its relative minor.
What key has 3 sharps?
A major and its relative minor, F# minor. The sharps are F#, C# and G#.
What key has 2 flats?
Bb major and G minor. The flats are Bb and Eb.
What is the order of sharps in a key signature?
F C G D A E B. The order of flats is the same letters reversed: B E A D G C F.