Key Signatures, the Shortcut

Remember B E A D G C F or bead gcf.

BEAD GC F

BEAD GC F

So, if there is one sharp, its F#; 2 sharps, F# and C#; 3, F#, C# and G#; etc. If theres one flat its Bb; 2 flats will be Bb and Eb; 3 will be Bb, Eb and Ab; etc. If you can just remember a couple of more things you can get this key signature thing behind you.

BEAD GC F

BEAD GC F

A key with one sharp will be G (and as we learned before the sharp will be F#); 2 sharps will be D, 3 will be A, etc. Heres one of the things you have to remember: When you get to B (5 sharps), you loop back to the right side of the list, your next key will be F# (6 sharps). A key with one flat will be F (and the flat will be Bb); Again we loop to the beginning and the next key will be Bb (two flats, Bb and Eb); 3 flats will be Eb; etc. Remember that once youve looped to the beginning, all the key names will include the flat, Bb, Eb, Ab, etc.

First Sharp Key

First Flat Key