LESSON 5
Key Signature II
LESSON FIVE
KEY SIGNATURE III
Unlock the secret language of music with an introduction to key signatures.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this Lesson, learners should be able to:
1. Identify key signature
2. Place sharps of key signatures correctly
3. Place flats of key signatures correctly
4. Mention the acronyms to remember them correctly
What is Key Signature?
In the preceding Lesson, we presented key signatures along with the corresponding
acronyms or mnemonics to aid in their memorization for sharp and flat keys. In this
Lesson, we will delve into the process of placing these symbols on the treble and bass staff.
It is important to note that key signatures are essential notational elements used to convey
the key of a song.
Placing the Sharp Signs
When placing sharp signs on the staff, it is important to follow a specific method instead of
randomly placing them.
As a reminder, for the key of G Major, there is only one sharp to be placed on the fifth line of
the staff, which corresponds to the note F
Key G major - F
Key D Major has two sharps. The first sharp should be placed on the fifth line of the staff,
which corresponds to the note F, while the second sharp should be placed on the third
space on the staff, which corresponds to the note C
Key D major – F, C
Key A Major has three sharps. three sharps are required to be placed on the staff. The first
sharp should be placed on the fifth line of the staff corresponding to the note F, the second
sharp on the third space on the staff corresponding to the note C, and the third sharp on the
first ledger space above the staff corresponding to the note G
.
Key A major – F, C, G
Key E Major has four sharps. The first sharp should be placed on the fifth line of the staff
corresponding to the note F, the second sharp on the third space on the staff corresponding
to the note C, the third sharp on the first ledger space above the staff corresponding to the
note G, and finally, the fourth sharp on the fourth line of the staff corresponding to the note
D.
Key E major – F, C, G, D
Key B Major has five sharps. The first sharp should be placed on the fifth line of the staff
corresponding to the note F, the second sharp on the third space on the staff corresponding
to the note C, the third sharp on the first ledger space above the staff corresponding to the
note G, the fourth sharp on the fourth line of the staff corresponding to the note D, and
finally, the fifth sharp on the second space on the staff corresponding to the note A.
Key B major – F, C, G, D, A
Key F Major has six sharps. Begin by placing the first sharp on the fifth line of the staff
corresponding to the note F. Then, place the second sharp on the third space of the staff
corresponding to the note C, followed by the third sharp on the first ledger space above the
staff corresponding to the note G. The fourth sharp should be placed on the fourth line of
the staff corresponding to the note D, the fifth sharp on the second space of the staff
corresponding to the note A, and finally, the sixth sharp on the fourth space of the staff
corresponding to the note E.
Key F sharp major – F, C, G, D, A, E
Key C Major has seven sharps. Follow the same trend by placing the first sharp on line F,
which is the fifth line on the staff. The second sharp goes on space C, which is the third
space on the staff. The third sharp goes on space G, which is the first ledger line above the
staff. The fourth sharp goes on line D, which is the fourth line on the staff. The fifth sharp
goes on space A, which is the second space on the staff. The sixth sharp goes on space E,
which is the fourth space on the staff. Finally, the seventh sharp goes on line B, which is the
third line on the staff.
Key C sharp major – F, C, G, D, A, E, B
Placing the Flat Signs
key F Major has just one flat. The flat symbol should be positioned on the third line of the
staff, which is known as line B
Key F major - B
Key B Major has two flats. The first flat should be placed on the third line of the staff,
which corresponds to the note B, and the second flat should be placed on the fourth space
of the staff, which corresponds to the note E.
Key B flat major – B, E
Key E Major has three flats. The first flat should be placed on the third line of the staff,
which corresponds to the note B, the second flat should be placed on the fourth space of the
staff, which corresponds to the note E and the third flat should be placed on second space
of the staff which corresponds to space A.
Key E flat major – B, E, A
Key A Major has four flats. place the first flat on line B which is on the third line of the staff.
Then, place the second flat on space E which is the fourth space on the staff. The third flat
should be placed on space A, which is the second space on the staff. Finally, the fourth flat
should be placed on line D, which is on the fourth line of the staff.
Key A flat major – B, E, A, D
Key D Major has five flats. Start by placing the first flat on line B on the third line of the
staff. Then place the second flat on space E, which is the fourth space on the staff. The third
flat goes on space A, which is the second space on the staff. After that, place the fourth flat
on line D, which is the fourth line on the staff. Finally, put the fifth flat on line G, which is the
second line on the staff.
Key D flat major – B, E, A, D, G
Key G Major has six flats. To correctly notate Key Gb Major, place the first flat on line B on
the third line of the staff, followed by the second flat on space E; the fourth space on the
staff. The third flat should be placed on space A; the second space on the staff, followed by
the fourth flat on line D; the fourth line on the staff, and the fifth flat on line G; the second
line on the staff. Lastly, place the sixth flat on space C, which is the third space on the staff.
Key G flat major – B, E, A, D, G, C
Key C Major has seven flats. The first flat should be placed on line B, the third line on the
staff. The second flat should be placed on space E, the fourth space on the staff. The third
flat should be placed on space A, the second space on the staff. The fourth flat should be
placed on line D, the fourth line on the staff. The fifth flat should be placed on line G, the
second line on the staff. The sixth flat should be placed on space C, the third space on the
staff. The seventh flat should be placed on space F, the first space on the staff.
Key C flat major - B, E, A, D, G, C, F
Acronyms to Remember Where to Place the Sharps.
To easily remember how to place the sharp signs while writing any key signature of our
choice, use this simple acronym:
G Major – F
D Major – F, C
A Major – F, C, G
E Major – F, C, G, D
B Major – F, C, G, D, A
F Major – F, C, G, D, A, E
C Major – F, C, G, D, A, E, B
Acronym: Father Charles Go Down And Eat Bread.
You could also consider the following:
Father Charles Go Down And End Battle.
Father Charles Go Down And Enter Bus.
Acronyms to Remember Where to Place the Flats.
To easily remember how to place the flat signs while writing any key signature of our
choice, use this simple acronym:
F Major – B
B Major – B, E
E Major – B, E, A
A Major – B, E, A, D
D Major – B, E, A, D, G
G Major – B, E, A, D, G, C
C Major – B, E, A, D, G, C, F
Acronym: Before Eating Any Doughnuts Get Coffee First.
You could also consider the following:
Baby Elephant Ate Daniel’s Golden Cat – Fish.
Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father.
SUMMARY
In this Lesson, we have learnt the following things:
1. A key signature is a group of sharps or flats that tells you the key of a
written piece.
2. While placing the sharp signs on the staff, there is a method to follow.
3. Do not place the sharp signs just anywhere you feel. There is a
particular pattern to follow.
4. The acronym to easily remember how to place the flat signs is Father
Charles Go Down And Eat Bread.
5. The acronym to easily remember how to place the flat signs is Before
Eating Any Doughnuts Get Coffee First.
EXERCISES
Answer the following questions from this Lesson:
1. Where would you place the sharps on the lines or spaces of key A Major?
2. Where would you place the flat signs on the lines or spaces of key Eb Major?
3. What is the acronym for placing the sharp signs on the lines and spaces on the musical staff?
4. What is the acronym for placing the flat signs on the lines and spaces on the musical staff?
