KEY SIGNATURE OF G, D, A AND E MAJOR

It is important to know how to find the key of a given passage.

In writing music in keys which have sharps or flats, it would be cumbersome to write a flat or sharp sign (as above) in front of every affected note, therefore the flats or sharps in each scale are grouped together and written immediately after the clef sign at the beginning of each line. 

However, the collection of flats and sharps placed at the beginning of each staff is called the key signature.

Exercises

Write in your manuscript the following key signatures

(a)      D major on treble clef

 (b)       A major on bass clef