Key Signatures:
What, Why, and How?
Introductory lesson for identifying and writing major key signatures

o What is a key signature?
o Why are key signatures important?
o How is a key signature identified and written?

Sing with solfege as a scale is played on piano. Listen for changes.
Does the pattern sound the same as the starting pitch becomes higher or lower?
Every major scale is created with the same formula.
Can you figure it out using the picture above?
Think in terms of steps on a piano.

Major Scale Formula
o W stands for “whole”
o H stands for “half”
o The letters refer to steps of the scale
A major scale consists of:
whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step

Types of Major Key Signatures
o Two types
o Classified as a sharp key or a flat key
o Determines which accidentals to use

G major – one sharp, why?
G to A whole step
A to B whole step
B to C half step
C to D whole step
D to E whole step
E to F … whole step? No
E to F# … whole step? Yes
F# to G half step
The key signature for G major is one sharp:
F#

F major – one flat, why?
F to G whole step
G to A whole step
A to B … half step? No
A to Bb … half step? Yes
Bb to C whole step
C to D whole step
D to E whole step
E to F half step
The key signature for F major is one flat:
Bb

F C G D A E B
Remember: Fat Cows Go Down And Eat Barley
Sharp keys add the sharp accidental in this order
B E A D G C F
Remember: BEAD Greatest Common Factor
Flat keys add the flat accidental in this order

o What is a key signature?
o Why are key signatures important?
o How is a key signature identified and written?
A key signature is any of several combinations of sharps or
flats
that appear after a clef at the beginning of a line of music
Key signatures determine which accidentals occur
throughout a piece of music without having to be placed in
front of individual notes (less ink on the page!)
Key signatures are identified by a collection of sharps or flats that appear
after a clef. They are written using an order of sharps and flats.