A Key Signature tells us what originating tone a song is to be performed in. There are 12 tones of equal value.
Imagine tones as blocks:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
The distance between each tone is called a half-step interval.
Since there are 12 tones in music, there are 12 major Key Signatures in music. 7 of these are primary key signatures called A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.
The remaining 5 key signatures are secondary key signatures. They have dual names, meaning they can be called sharp or flat. A sharp means half a step higher and a flat mean half a step lower. Sharps are represented by a “#” and flats are represented by a “b”. The 5 secondary key signatures are called G# or Ab, A# or Bb, C# or Db, D# or Eb, and F# or Gb.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| A | A#/Bb | B | C | C#/Db | D | D#/Eb | E | F | F#/Gb | G | G#/Ab |
A key signature can also be a minor key signature which makes for a total of 24 key signatures total.
Usually, the chord that starts a song will tell you what key a song is being played in. Most songs begin and almost always end with the chord that is the same as the key signature. For example, if a song begins with an A major chord, then it’s most likely in the key of A major–but especially if it ends with an A major chord as in the case in the audio example below:
Here is the chord progression that was played: A – D – F#/Gbm – E – A
Exceptions
While most songs begin and end with a chord that is the same as their key signature, there are exceptions. Sometimes a song will start on a chord that is not the same as its key signature, but the key signature chord will soon follow it. The chord that is the same as the key signature will usually be played more than any other chord. Take a listen to the example below:
This song is in the key of F (F major). Yet it begins with an A#/Bb chord. Here’s the first part of the chord progression: A#/Bb – C – F – A#/Bb – C – F. Clearly it ends with an F chord, and usually this is a dead giveaway. But the bridge that comes next leaves no doubt: Am – Dm – Am – Dm – A#/Bb – C – F. It also ends with and F chord. The lesson learned here is that the beginning may be a little vague, but the ending of a song or chord progression in a song will usually leave no doubt as to what the key signature is.
If a song doesn’t end with a chord that is the same as its key signature it usually leaves a feeling of “hanging”. It’s like the song isn’t complete without the key signature chord at the end.
There are songs that end on a chord other than the key signature chord. You can usually spot them a mile away. Some artists use them to create that incomplete or hanging feeling at the end of a song.
You’ve Got To Train Your Ears
Your best bet for learning how to determine a song’s key signature is to practice. In fact, it’s the only way you’ll ever truly know. Your ears have to be trained to know what to listen for.
Try listening to the radio with your guitar in hand and try to figure out the key signature for each song that plays. First, listen for a major or minor key and then try to determine the name of its key.
Final Thoughts
Most songs will begin and end with the chord that is the song’s key signature.
Another way to look at it is that the chord used most in a song is the same as the song’s
key signature. There are 12 major keys and 12 minor keys.
The best way to develop skills in identifying key signatures is by listening to songs and trying to
identify their key signature by ear. Pick up your guitar and try to identify the roots of the chords being played in the song. Use your low E string to find these root notes.
With a little practice, you’ll easily be able to identify a song’s key signature.
To play solos over a song you first need to identify its key signature, then you will be able to pick the appropriate scales to solo with.
The easiest way to look at this is that with a major key song you use the 5 basic major scale patterns to solo with and the basic minor scale patterns for a minor key song. In most cases, though, you can use the basic minor scale patterns to solo over a major key song, too. This is very common in blues and rock music.