NASDA

Musicianship

Process when given a key signature and asked what key it is:
• For ʻsharp keysʼ, the tonic (root, first note of scale) is a semitone above
the last sharp in the key signature.
Go up from D# to E.
Answer is E major

• For ʻflat keysʼ, the tonic (root, first note of scale) is the second-to-last
flat in the key signature.
Answer is Db major

Process when given a key and asked what its key signature is:

Use the method above in reverse:

1. For ʻsharp keysʼ, the last sharp in the key signature is a semitone
below the tonic (root, first note of scale).
eg: What is the key signature of E major?

2. Use the Order Of Sharps to name all the sharps.

Order Of Sharps is FCGDAEB. The note a
semitone below the root is D#, so the key
signature must be F#, C#, G#, D#

1. For ʻflat keysʼ, the second-to-last flat in the key signature is the tonic
(root, first note of scale). Any key that has a flat as its first note is a
ʻflatʼ key, and F major is as well.
eg: What is the key signature of Db major?

2. Use the Order Of Flats to name all the flats

Order Of Flats is BEADGCF. If the second-to-
last flat in the key signature is Db, then the
key signature must be Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb.