C major: No sharps or flats
G major: 1 sharp: F#
D major: 2 sharps: F#, C#
A major: 3 sharps: F#, C#, G#
E major: 4 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#
B major: 5 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#
F# major: 6 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#
C# major: 7 sharps
F major: 1 flat: Bb
Bb major: 2 flats: Bb, Eb
Eb major: 3 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab
Ab major: 4 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db
Db major: 5 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb
Gb major: 6 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb
Cb major: 7 flats
A minor: No sharps or flats
E minor: 1 sharp: F#
B minor: 2 sharps
F# minor: 3 sharps
C# minor: 4 sharps
G# minor: 5 sharps
D minor: 1 flat: Bb
G minor: 2 flats
C minor: 3 flats
F minor: 4 flats
Bb minor: 5 flats
Order of sharps: F C G D A E B
Order of flats: B E A D G C F
Trick for sharp keys: The last sharp is the note just below the tonic (do) of the major key
Trick for flat keys: The second-to-last flat is the name of the major key
Why is F major the exception to the flat-key trick?: It has only one flat, so you simply have to remember it
Relative minor: The minor key sharing a key signature with a major key, three half steps below its tonic
Relative major of A minor: C major
Relative major of E minor: G major
Relative major of D minor: F major
Relative major of B minor: D major
Relative major of G minor: Bb major
Relative minor of D major: B minor
Relative minor of F major: D minor
Relative minor of Bb major: G minor
Relative minor of Eb major: C minor
Relative minor of A major: F# minor
Parallel key: A major and minor key with the same tonic, such as C major and C minor
Circle of fifths: A diagram placing keys a fifth apart, adding one sharp or flat each step
Going clockwise on the circle of fifths: Add one sharp (or remove one flat)
Going counter-clockwise on the circle of fifths: Add one flat (or remove one sharp)
Enharmonic keys: Keys that sound the same but are spelled differently, like F# major and Gb major
Which keys have no key signature?: C major and A minor
Where is the key signature written?: Right after the clef at the start of each staff
Tonic: The home note of a key
Key signature of Gb major equals which sharp key?: F# major (enharmonic)
Number of sharps in G major: One
Number of flats in Eb major: Three
Number of sharps in E major: Four
Number of flats in Ab major: Four
Which sharp is added first in sharp keys?: F#
Which flat is added first in flat keys?: Bb
Which key has C# as its last sharp?: D major
Which key has F# as its last sharp?: G major
Which key has G# as its last sharp?: A major
Which key has A# as its last sharp?: B major
Which key has D# as its last sharp?: E major
Which key has Eb as its second flat?: Bb major

Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/music-key-signatures