key sigs

[davekllawre210]

how can i figure out what key signature a song is in?

[guitardmb]

Circle of fifths is one way. Another way is if it is sharp, you go to the last note on the key signiture and go one note above it. If it is flat you take the second to last note. Or you could just memorize.

If you are just working with chords then a good way is to just play in the key of the first chord played. This isnt always the right key but, in my experience, it still sounds good when leading over it.

[mlb1399]

O#=Cmaj, Amin
1#=Gmaj, Emin
2#=Dmaj, Bmin
3#=Amaj, F#min
4#=Emaj, C#min
5#=Bmaj, G#min
6#=F#maj, D#min
7#=C#maj, A#min

1b=Fmaj, Dmin
2b=Bbmaj, Gmin
3b=Ebmaj, Cmin
4b=Abmaj, Fmin
5b=Dbmaj, Bbmin
6b=Gbmaj, Ebmin
7b=Cbmaj, Abmin

Looking at where the sharp or flat is on the staff will tell you what note is # or b.

For instance looking at G major which has 1 sharp you notice the # intersects the F line meaning that the only sharp in G major is F#.

G A B C D E F# G

If the sharp or flat is between the lines then you will use that note to determine which note is # or b.

D maj there is a # on the F and in between B and D so C# is the other sharp.

D E F# G A B C# D