Music theory lesson
Key Signatures
Recognize the written signature, name the key, and connect it to its relatives.
Key signatures place sharps or flats after the clef so the same pitch spelling applies throughout a passage. Learn the order, then use the circle of fifths to understand the pattern.
Choose a focused route.
Move from broad topic to one skill, then open a stable printable set.
Section 1
Sharp Key Id Sharp Easy
Open section →Section 2Sharp Key Id Flat Easy
Open section →Section 3Sharp Key Id Sharp Medium
Open section →Section 4Sharp Key Id Flat Medium
Open section →Section 5Sharp Key Id Sharp Hard
Open section →Section 6Sharp Key Id Flat Hard
Open section →Section 7Flat Key Id Sharp Easy
Open section →Section 8Flat Key Id Flat Easy
Open section →Section 9Flat Key Id Sharp Medium
Open section →Section 10Flat Key Id Flat Medium
Open section →Section 11Flat Key Id Sharp Hard
Open section →Section 12Flat Key Id Flat Hard
Open section →Section 13Key Sig Writing Sharp Easy
Open section →Section 14Key Sig Writing Flat Easy
Open section →Section 15Key Sig Writing Sharp Medium
Open section →Section 16Key Sig Writing Flat Medium
Open section →Section 17Key Sig Writing Sharp Hard
Open section →Section 18Key Sig Writing Flat Hard
Open section →Section 19Key To Scale Sharp Easy
Open section →Section 20Key To Scale Flat Easy
Open section →Section 21Key To Scale Sharp Medium
Open section →Section 22Key To Scale Flat Medium
Open section →Section 23Key To Scale Sharp Hard
Open section →Section 24Key To Scale Flat Hard
Open section →Section 25Circle Fifths Fill Sharp Easy
Open section →Section 26Circle Fifths Fill Flat Easy
Open section →Section 27Circle Fifths Fill Sharp Medium
Open section →Section 28Circle Fifths Fill Flat Medium
Open section →Section 29Circle Fifths Fill Sharp Hard
Open section →Section 30Circle Fifths Fill Flat Hard
Open section →Section 31Circle Fifths Blank Sharp Easy
Open section →Section 32Circle Fifths Blank Flat Easy
Open section →Section 33Circle Fifths Blank Sharp Medium
Open section →Section 34Circle Fifths Blank Flat Medium
Open section →Section 35Circle Fifths Blank Sharp Hard
Open section →Section 36Circle Fifths Blank Flat Hard
Open section →Section 37Enharmonic Keys Sharp Easy
Open section →Section 38Enharmonic Keys Flat Easy
Open section →Section 39Enharmonic Keys Sharp Medium
Open section →Section 40Enharmonic Keys Flat Medium
Open section →Section 41Enharmonic Keys Sharp Hard
Open section →Section 42Enharmonic Keys Flat Hard
Open section →Section 43Major Minor Match Sharp Easy
Open section →Section 44Major Minor Match Flat Easy
Open section →Section 45Major Minor Match Sharp Medium
Open section →Section 46Major Minor Match Flat Medium
Open section →Section 47Major Minor Match Sharp Hard
Open section →Section 48Major Minor Match Flat Hard
Open section →Section 49Key Flashcards Sharp Easy
Open section →Section 50Key Flashcards Flat Easy
Open section →Section 51Key Flashcards Sharp Medium
Open section →Section 52Key Flashcards Flat Medium
Open section →Section 53Key Flashcards Sharp Hard
Open section →Section 54Key Flashcards Flat Hard
Open section →Section 55Accidentals Vs Key Sharp Easy
Open section →Section 56Accidentals Vs Key Flat Easy
Open section →Section 57Accidentals Vs Key Sharp Medium
Open section →Section 58Accidentals Vs Key Flat Medium
Open section →Section 59Accidentals Vs Key Sharp Hard
Open section →Section 60Accidentals Vs Key Flat Hard
Open section →Notes, sources, and further reading
A reliable reading method
For sharp keys, move one semitone above the final sharp to name the major key. For most flat keys, the penultimate flat names the major key; F major is the one-flat exception. Confirm every answer on a real staff.