Key Signatures

(or: How do they know what the pitch is?)

No sharps or flats: key of C
One flat (B): key of F
Two flats (B, E): key of B-flat
Three flats (B. E, A): key of E-flat
Four flats (B,E, A, D): key of A-flat
Five flats (B, E, A, D, G): key of D-flat
Six flats (B, E, A, D, G, C): key of G-flat
Seven flats (B, E, A, D, G, C, F): key of C-flat

One sharp (F): key of G
Two sharps (F, C): key of D
Three sharps (F, C, G): key of A
Four sharps (F, C, G, D): Key of E
Five sharps (F, C, G, D, A): Key of B
Six sharps (F, C, G, D, A, E): Key of F-sharp
Seven sharps (F, C, G, D, A, E, B): Key of C-sharp

Note: Key signatures with more than 4 sharps or flats are rare, although you may see five flats occasionally. Notice the pattern, it's not random, really makes sense. An easy crutch for flat keys, the second flat from the right is the key; for sharp keys, go up ½ step from the last sharp to the right. You just have to remember that no sharps or flats is key of C and one flat is key of F.

You can go through your music and write in all the pitches, look for key changes. This is for your own practice only. We do sing some songs in a higher pitch, so the official pitch blown may not be what's written in the music. If all you're trying to do is check your notes at home, stick with the music as written.