What is a key signature?
Q: What is a key signature?
A: A key signature is a group of sharps or flats which are printed at the beginning of a line/measure of music. It shows which notes have to be changed into sharps or flats.
Q: How many major and minor keys are there?
A: There are twelve major and twelve minor keys (properly called “modes"). This is because a scale can start on any note, and there are twelve notes within an octave.
Q: How many possible key signatures are there?
A: There are fifteen possible key signatures: up to seven sharps, up to seven flats, or no sharps or flats. The reason why there are fifteen and not twelve is because three of them have two possible names.
Q: Why do composers use key signatures?
A: Composers use key signatures for two reasons; firstly, it saves writing out lots of sharps or flats during the piece, and secondly it helps the player to think in the 'key' (music) of the piece so they can better understand the music.
Q: What happens if extra sharps or flats need to be added during a piece?
A: If extra sharps or flats need to be added during a piece, these can be written in as accidentals before each note that needs one instead of just once in a bar.
Q: Are double sharp signs and double flat signs used in music notation?
A: Yes, double sharp signs (the sign looks like an x) and double flat signs (two flat signs) can both be used in music notation when needed.
Q: Do modern composers always use key signatures ?
A: No , some modern composers do not always use key signatures , particularly when the music is atonal or not very firmly in one key .
