Watch the video below to easily find key signatures using The NANDI Method. This is the classical method where you have to have a circle of fifths image in front of you or commit the information provided by the circle to memory, such as the names and number of sharps in each and every key.

Using the order of sharps, we can see the first three sharps are F#, C#, and G#, so the key of A is comprised of A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G#. We can count that it is three steps clockwise from C, which means that it has three sharps. Let’s pick a key at random, say A, and want to determine the number of sharps. We can conclude that the key of G is comprised of G-A-B-C-D-E-F#. The circle of fifths shows the order of keys in fifths when moving clockwise, and fourths when moving counterclockwise.Īs we move clockwise around the circle we move into keys that contain sharps (G-D-A-E-B-F#-C#), and as we move counterclockwise we move into keys that contain flats (F♭-C♭-G♭-D♭-A♭-E♭-B♭-F).Ĭ is the only major key with no sharps or flats.įor each letter going clockwise starting from G, you add a sharp. The chart below is a circle of fifths showing the enharmonic names for all possible key signatures. How does this help us determine the key signature of a given key? That is why you often find a reference to the circle of fifths to help in this task.

We can see that the order of note names is the same for both, only that the letters in the flat sequence is in reverse order from the letters in the sharp sequence. The order of flats is in fourths and begins with B♭: The order of sharps is in fifths and begins with F#: First, let’s recall the order of sharps and flats. In each key, we need to figure out which notes are sharp or flat. A musical piece that is based on a major scale is said to be in a major key and when it is based on a minor scale, it is said to be in a minor key. Every major scale has a specific number of sharps or flats, commonly referred to as the key signature.

Order of flats in a key signature