Comments on: How Do Key Signatures Work?

By: Brendan

Brendan — Sun, 09 May 2010 17:42:30 +0000

Thanks. I am learning to read music and this helps a lot. See, my problem is that I have allready wrritten some songs for my band, but now Im going back to figure out the keys of these songs, and they don’t seem to fit in any key. It’s so confusing.
My question is that (for example) if you have a song in the key of G, is it ok to add in a B flat? If so, is it still in the key, or does that mess everything up?
Please help me figure this out,
Thanks, Brendan

By: Joy

Joy — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:37:17 +0000

Ever since I first started to learn my key signatures, I’ve found the easiest way to remember the order of sharps and flats is:

For Sharps: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle.

This is really awesome because if you say it backwards, it’s the order for flats and it still makes complete sense:

With Flats: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father

!! Its what I’ve used for 8 years of theory … hope this helps

By: Carol Irwin

Carol Irwin — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:08:40 +0000

I was actually looking for a website at which I could download a hymn in a certain key, when I stumbled across your website. What a delight! I’ve, for whatever reason, remembered that the next to the last flat is the key, but I had forgotten that 1/2 step up from the last sharp is the key. (Or perhaps I was asleep when that was presented!) Anyway, I enjoyed your website.

Now it’s back to my search.

Carol