What do sharps and flats look like

You will notice the flats and sharps of the key signature are written in the order of flats and sharps. Students are often confused about why we need these note names like Cb, Fb, E , and B. Isn't Cb the same as B? And, Fb the same as E?!

There is a reason for these "funny" note names. When we spell scales, we can't skip letters and we want to avoid having two letters such as a B and a Bb in the same scale. That would cause trouble with reading music and just be confusing. Notice there are then two B notes and no C. To use the many interactive features of StudyBass, please enable javascript. Problem 1 Write the following key signatures correctly and name the major keys that they represent:.

The effect of a key signature continues throughout a piece or movement, unless explicitly cancelled by another key signature. For example, if a five-sharp key signature is placed at the beginning of a piece, every A in the piece in any octave will be played as A sharp, unless preceded by an accidental for instance, the A in the above scale — the penultimate note — is played as an A even though the A in the key signature is written an octave lower.

Generally, if there is only one sharp, it must be F sharp; the sequence of sharps or flats in key signatures is rigid in music from the common practice period. The order is set out below.

In a score containing more than one instrument, all the instruments are usually written with the same key signature. A key signature is not the same as a key; key signatures are merely notational devices. They are convenient principally for diatonic or tonal music.

For a given mode the key signature defines the diatonic scale that a piece of music uses. Most scales require that some notes be consistently sharpened or flattened. For example, in the key of G major, the leading-note is F sharp. So the key signature associated with G major is the one-sharp key signature.

However, there is no causal connection; if you see a piece with a one-sharp key signature, you cannot be certain it is in G major. Many other factors determine the key of a piece. This is particularly true of minor keys. Instead, the B flats necessary for D minor are written as accidentals as and when necessary. When modes, such as Lydian or Dorian, are written using key signatures they are called transposed modes.

The table below illustrates the number of sharps or flats for each key signature and the relative major key signatures for minor scales see circle of fifths. Remembering all the key signatures is easily done when you apply four simple rules:. Let's discuss what all of these key signatures have in common. The key of C has no sharps or flats because it naturally follows this pattern. The key of F, for example, has 1 flat B flat. Here's what it would look like without the B flatted.

Notice that the pattern changes, which means that this is no longer a Major scale. This is the key of E flat because E flat is the second to last flat in the key signature. This is the key of D flat because D flat is the second to last flat in the key signature.

These tell you to change the pitch of the original note. Occasionally, notes can also be double-sharp or double-flat. The premise of these is the same but moves the pitch by two semitones or a tone.