Key Signatures
Major Key Signatures
Key
Sharps/Flats
Notes
C Major / A Minor
0
C D E F G A B
G Major / E Minor
1# (F#)
G A B C D E F#
D Major / B Minor
2# (F#, C#)
D E F# G A B C#
A Major / F# Minor
3# (F#, C#, G#)
A B C# D E F# G#
E Major / C# Minor
4# (F#, C#, G#, D#)
E F# G# A B C# D#
B Major / G# Minor
5# (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#)
B C# D# E F# G# A#
F# Major / D# Minor
6# (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#)
F# G# A# B C# D# E#
C# Major / A# Minor
7# (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#)
C# D# E# F# G# A# B#
Minor Key Signatures
Key
Relative Major
Notes (Natural Minor)
A Minor
C Major
A B C D E F G
E Minor
G Major
E F# G A B C D
B Minor
D Major
B C# D E F# G A
F# Minor
A Major
F# G# A B C# D E
C# Minor
E Major
C# D# E F# G# A B
G# Minor
B Major
G# A# B C# D# E F#
Circle of Fifths
Clockwise Movement (5th up)
Each step adds a sharp (or removes a flat)
C → G → D → A → E → B → F# → C#
Counter-clockwise (4th up/5th down)
Each step adds a flat (or removes a sharp)
C → F → B♭ → E♭ → A♭ → D♭ → G♭ → C♭
Relative Minor
Each major key has a relative minor (3 semitones down)
C Major → A Minor
Parallel Minor
Same tonic, different key signature
C Major → C Minor (3 flats)
Key Signature Patterns
Order of Sharps
Order of Flats
F# C# G# D# A# E# B#
B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ C♭ F♭
Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles' Father
Key Signature Mnemonics
Sharps
Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
(F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#)
Flats
Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles' Father
(B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭)
Major Sharp Keys
Go Down And Eat Breakfast, Father Charles
(G, D, A, E, B, F#, C#)
Major Flat Keys
Father Bear Eats All Day, Good Charlie
(F, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭)