A key signature is a group of sharps or a group of flats that appear at the beginning of a

piece of music. The key signatures tells the musician which sharps and flats are to be played
throughout the piece of music. A key signature can be used instead of using accidentals. To
illustrate my point, I will use the scale of D major.

Sharps
Key Signature

Keys

Accidentals

C major / A minor

(none)

G major / E minor

D major / B minor

F, C

A major / F-sharp minor

F, C, G

Key Signature

Flats

Keys

Accidentals

E major / C-sharp minor

F, C, G, D

B major / G-sharp minor

F, C, G, D, A

F-sharp major / D-sharp minor

F, C, G, D, A, E

C-sharp major / A-sharp minor

F, C, G, D, A, E, B

Key Signature

Keys

Accidentals

C major / A minor

(none)

F major / D minor

B-flat major / G minor

B, E

E-flat major / C minor

B, E, A

A-flat major / F minor

B, E, A, D

Key Signature

Keys

Accidentals

D-flat major / B-flat minor

B, E, A, D, G

G-flat major / E-flat minor

B, E, A, D, G, C

C-flat major / A-flat minor

B, E, A, D, G, C, F