If the song is in a minor or diminished key, the key signature may use natural symbols where certain sharp or flat symbols would be for the equivalent major key. It indicates what major key the music is to be played in. In music notation, the key signature is a series of sharps, flats, and/or natural signs at the beginning of a staff following the clef (but before the time signature).

Cb major/ Ab minor: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb, Fb.Gb major/ Eb minor: Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb.The minor key for a given major key signature starts on the perfect sixth of that major key.Ĭ major is the key requiring no modifications ( accidentals), and hence requires no key signature ( null key signature?). As with most simplistic explanations, though, that doesn't do justice to the concept. The most simplistic way to explain this is that major keys sound happy, and minor keys sound sad.

This key is represented in musical notation by a set of markings indicating modifications, either raising the note a half-step ( sharp) or lowering it one half-step ( flat), to any notes written on a particular line or space.Įach key signature represents two possible keys, a major and a minor key. That 'home' note is the base of the tonality or key. Usually there's a certain note or set of notes (called a chord) that feels like home - a good landing place for a note sequence. Collection of sharp and flat symbols at the beginning of a musical staff, indicating the tonality of the music written on that staff.įor the non-musical people out there: listen to your average pop song.

A flat major key signature