Grade 1: Key signatures: Introduction
Key signatures relate to the number of sharps or flats at the beginning of a piece of music. A melody written in the key of ‘C’ will have no sharps or flats in its key signature. However if a melody is written in the key of ‘G’ there will be one sharp as its key signature.
To understand why key signatures are required and their use, study the module on the Major scales.
In grade 1 you will need to know the key signatures of C major, F major, G major and D major.
The following shows the key signatures for these keys using the treble clef and bass clefs:
…………………………………….C major…………………………………….F major……………………………………..G major……………………………..…….D major
If a melody is written in the key of F major the key signature will include one flat, namely Bb. This means that all B’s at whatever pitch must be played as Bb and not B. Similarly if a melody is written in the key of G major the key signature will include one sharp, namely F#. In the G major key all F’s at whatever pitch must be played as F# and not F.