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The Basics of Music Theory – Part 3 (Key Signatures)
In our last installment (The Basics of Music Theory – Part 2 (Intervals & the Major Scale)) we covered the major scale. With the scale comes the identification of keys. That brings us to today’s subject, key signatures.
Defining A Key Signature
The key signature is found at the beginning of every line of music in a given piece of music notation. I mention the words “music notation” because I know some guitarists read tablature and key signatures do not exist in tablature. It is the sharps or flats that come from the major scale that define the piece of music you are playing. Therefore, it is just a device to indicate what specific key you are playing for that particular piece.
All music could be written without a key signature but then all the accidentals of a key would need to be written every time they were needed in the music. This would make reading notation very cumbersome. Hence, a key signature that has the notes of E major specifies that the entire piece is in E major. It also indicates that when you see that particular note, at any place on the staff, it would need to be played according to the key signature (i.e. if the key signature says F-sharp, then you need to play all notes appearing to be F as F-sharp).
The key signature of E major generally confines the piece to using the notes in the key of E major. Obviously, this would restrict composers from true expression. Therefore, other notes can be added using accidentals (sharps or flats not found in the key signature). To improve your reading skills, you might want to check out my book, Sight Reading Mastery: A resource for all guitarists.
Key Signature Relatives
Each key signature can indicate two actual keys. The first is the major and the second is the minor. The minor key “related” to the major is called the relative minor and vice versa (relative major). The relative minor of a major begins on the sixth degree of the major scale. Let’s take the key of C major. The notes in C major are C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and C (scale degree: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7). The notes of the relative minor, A minor, begin on the sixth degree. This makes the notes of A minor A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.
Chart Of Major And Minor Key Signatures
The key of C major mentioned above has no sharps or flats. All the notes in that key are considered “natural”. Therefore, the first key is that of C major (or A minor) in the chart below giving all the sharp and flat major and minor key signatures.
If you missed our last part in this series, then check out The Basics of Music Theory – Part 2 (Intervals & the Major Scale). Now that you’re good with this, it’s time to proceed to The Basics of Music Theory – Part 4 (Cycle of 4ths). If you would like to have a useful iOS app for music theory and ear training, then might I suggest Tenuto. It is an awesome app to push your musicianship to new levels. I know it has mine!
Basic Guitar Theory Scale Primer and Intervals (PDF)
$4.99
Whether you’re a beginner or looking to solidify your foundational knowledge, this guide is designed to help you master the essential elements of guitar theory.
Interested in going further? Check out Music Theory for Guitarists: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask or Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory: A Complete Self-Study Course for All Musicians. Also, if you are looking for a beginning guitar to apply this theory on, then check out our 10 Best Beginning Acoustic Guitars post.
I have two degrees in guitar performance and was privileged to study under Aaron Shearer, Tom Kikta, David Skantar, Ken Karsh, Tim Bedner, and currently Christopher Berg. Outside my editorial work on this blog, I teach full-time across many genres including classical, jazz, blues, rock, funk, and metal.
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