key signature
Sharps and flats
A key signature is the set of sharps or flats at the beginning of a musical staff, indicating which notes are consistently raised or lowered throughout the piece.
It tells performers what key the music is in: The key signature of G major has one sharp.
Key signatures appear after the clef and before the time signature.
Staff pitch indicator
- staffOrganization's workers collectively
- flatLacking vertical variation
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
- naturalNot artificially produced
accidental · double flat · ledger lines · staves · bar line · repeat sign · coda · engraving
Of chief importance
- minorScale with lowered third
- relative minorKey sharing accidentals, sadder
- tonicInvigorating medicinal drink
- modalPertaining to form
diatonic · chromatic · enharmonic · pitch · tonal · atonal · modulation · transpose
Heptatonic pattern with semitones
- minor scaleMelancholic interval structure
- pentatonicScale of five tones
- harmonic minorScale with raised seventh
- octaveEight-note interval
stepwise · degrees · tonic · mediant · subdominant · dominant · leading tone
Notes sounded simultaneously
- progressionSequential forward movement
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- dominantHaving superior influence
subdominant · counterpoint · consonance · dissonance · voicing · arpeggio · triad · interval
clef
Staff pitch indicator
natural · accidental · double flat · ledger lines · staves · bar line · repeat sign · coda · engraving · manuscript
major
Of chief importance
- minorScale with lowered third
- relative minorKey sharing accidentals, sadder
- tonicInvigorating medicinal drink
modal · diatonic · chromatic · enharmonic · pitch · tonal · atonal · modulation · transpose · home key
major scale
Heptatonic pattern with semitones
- minor scaleMelancholic interval structure
- pentatonicScale of five tones
- harmonic minorScale with raised seventh
octave · stepwise · degrees · tonic · mediant · subdominant · dominant · leading tone
chord
Notes sounded simultaneously
- progressionSequential forward movement
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
dominant · subdominant · counterpoint · consonance · dissonance · voicing · arpeggio · triad · interval · suspension
- musicmusic, song, songs, singing, singer
- harmonyharmony, chord, chords, triad, triads
- classical music termspiano concerto, violin concerto, concerto, sonata, tone poem
- music fundamentalsdo, re, mi, fa, sol
- music notationtreble clef, bass clef, clef, clefs, staff
- musical notationforte, score, piano, sheet music, notation
key signatureatonality
Absence of key signature
atonal music · serialism · chromaticism · no key · keylessness