Read music
Key signatures on the piano
A key signature is the group of sharps or flats printed at the start of each line of music. It tells you which notes to alter for the whole piece, so they do not have to be marked every time they appear. One sharp means every F is played as F sharp. One flat means every B is played as B flat.
Click any key to hear it. Your computer's A to K row works too.
How do I know which key I am in?
Count the sharps or flats. No sharps and no flats means C major or A minor. One sharp is G major or E minor, two sharps is D major, one flat is F major, two flats is B flat major. The last sharp in a key signature is one semitone below the key note, and the second to last flat is the key note itself, which are two shortcuts worth knowing.
Do key signatures apply to both hands?
Yes, both staves, all the way through, in every octave. If the key signature has an F sharp then every F you play is sharp, in either hand, high or low, unless a natural sign specifically cancels it for that bar.
What is an accidental?
A sharp, flat or natural written next to a note in the music itself rather than in the key signature. It applies for the rest of that bar only, then the key signature takes over again. Für Elise uses accidentals rather than a key signature, which is why the D sharps are marked individually.
Which key signatures should a beginner learn first?
C major first, because it has none at all. Then G major with one sharp and F major with one flat, which between them cover an enormous amount of beginner repertoire. Learn them as sounds and hand shapes rather than as facts to memorise.
Keep going
Read next
Lines are E G B D F, spaces spell FACE. How to read the treble clef and find each note on Open → ♪ Bass clef notes: lines and spaces
Lines are G B D F A, spaces are A C E G. How to read the bass clef, and why it is not the Open → ♪ Piano sight reading exercises
How to practise sight reading properly: small range, steady pulse, never stop to correct. Open → ♪ How to play piano chords
Major and minor chords explained, which fingers to use, and the four chords that cover mos Open →
Put it into practice in the practice room, or start at the beginning with the five minute walkthrough.
Questions
Common questions
What does one sharp in the key signature mean?
Every F in the piece is played as F sharp, in both hands and every octave, unless cancelled by a natural sign.
Which key has no sharps or flats?
C major, and its relative minor, A minor. Both use only the white keys.
How long does a key signature last?
For the whole piece, unless a new one is printed. Accidentals inside the music only last for one bar.