Key Signatures

Key

The pitch collection of notes in a composition and the hierarchal relationship between them

Order of sharps

FCGDAEB

No sharps

C major

1 sharp 

G major 

2 sharps

D major

3 sharps

A major

4 sharps 

E major 

5 sharps

B major

6 sharps

F-sharp major

7 sharps 

C sharp major 

Half Step

The tonic and the name of the key are always a _______ above the last sharp in the key signature

Order of Flats

BEADGCF

0 flats/ 0 sharps

C major

1 Flat 

F major 

2 Flats 

B flat major 

3 flats

E flat major

4 flats

A flat major

5 flats

D flat major

6 flats

G flat major

7 flats 

C flat major 

tonic

In a flat key signature, the next-to-last flat is the name of the key