Key Signatures Chart
Every key signature, from 7 flats to 7 sharps, with the major key and relative minor key it belongs to. Click a key to open its scale page.
| Signature | Major key | Minor key | Accidentals |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | C Major | A Minor | — |
| 1♯ | G Major | E Minor | F♯ |
| 2♯ | D Major | B Minor | F♯, C♯ |
| 3♯ | A Major | F♯ Minor | F♯, C♯, G♯ |
| 4♯ | E Major | C♯ Minor | F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯ |
| 5♯ | B Major | G♯ Minor | F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ |
| 6♯ | F♯ Major | D♯ Minor | F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯ |
| 7♯ | C♯ Major | A♯ Minor | F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯ |
| 1♭ | F Major | D Minor | B♭ |
| 2♭ | B♭ Major | G Minor | B♭, E♭ |
| 3♭ | E♭ Major | C Minor | B♭, E♭, A♭ |
| 4♭ | A♭ Major | F Minor | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭ |
| 5♭ | D♭ Major | B♭ Minor | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭ |
| 6♭ | G♭ Major | E♭ Minor | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭ |
| 7♭ | C♭ Major | A♭ Minor | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭ |
Order of sharps
Sharps are always added in the same order: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯ — each new sharp a fifth above the previous one. Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle. The major key is a half step above the last sharp.
Order of flats
Flats are added in the reverse order: B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭ — each new flat a fourth above the previous one. Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles' Father. The major key is named by the second-to-last flat.
Frequently asked questions
How many key signatures are there?
There are 15 key signatures: no accidentals, 1–7 sharps and 1–7 flats. Three pairs are enharmonic equivalents (B/C♭, F♯/G♭, C♯/D♭), so there are 12 distinct-sounding major keys.
How do I identify a key from its signature?
For sharps, the major key is a half step above the last sharp. For flats, the major key is named by the second-to-last flat (F major is the exception with a single flat). The relative minor is always three half steps below the major key.
Why do major and minor keys share key signatures?
Every major scale contains the same notes as the natural minor scale starting on its sixth degree — the relative minor. Since they use the same notes, they share one key signature.
