Key signatures chart

Name the key from the signature

With sharps, the last sharp is the 7th note of the major scale, so the key is the next letter up, a half step above it: the last sharp of D major is C♯, one half step below D. With flats, the second-to-last flat is the key: B♭ E♭ is B♭ major, B♭ E♭ A♭ is E♭ major. One flat on its own is F major, the one to learn by heart. The minor key with the same signature starts on the 6th note of the major scale, three half steps below the major key: G major and E minor share F♯.

At the bottom of the circle three pairs of keys play exactly the same piano keys under different names: B and C♭, F♯ and G♭, C♯ and D♭ major. Music in them is usually written in whichever has fewer sharps or flats.

Which signatures real pieces use

Of the 378 pieces in Clefsight's library, 118 have no sharps or flats, 324 have at most two sharps or flats and 358 at most three. The most common signature is no sharps or flats (C major or A minor, 118 pieces). None is written with 5 sharps, 6 sharps, 7 sharps, 5 flats and 7 flats. So learn the signatures in the order of the circle, near the top first: they are the ones you will meet.