Key Signatures

There are two different types of scales; major and minor.
Flats and sharps help make these. C major is the only key that has no flats
or sharps in the key signature. There is a certain order for flats and sharps
to appear in the key signature.

Flats : BEADGFC Sharps : GFCDAEB

Figuring out what key a piece of music is in is a challenge.It's helpful having a little knowledge about where notes are on the staff.

This is the grandstaff with each line and space labeled which their correct letter.

Look at F major in the picture above. The flat is on the third line of the
treble clef staff and on the second line of the bass clef staff which is a B. Then
you count down three half steps: one space, then a line, then a space. You end up on the
first space of the treble clef and below the first line in the bass clef which is an F. Now if
there is more then one flat, count down three half steps from the furthest flat to the right OR
look at where the second flat from the right is on the staff. Look at the Db major key signature. The
second flat from the right is a Db. This trick is easy if you know where each note (letter) lies
on the grand staff.

Now I'll teach you how to find the key signature when there are sharps.
Look at the D major key signature. The last sharp is a third space C in the treble clef
and a second space C in the bass clef. All you do is go up one half step which is a
D. Always use the furthest sharp to the right and go up one half step.

Sharps and flats are never mixed in the key signature. However, sometimes in a piece of
there are accidentals. Accidentals are notes that are either a sharp or flat not marked at the beginning
of the music.