

All of the major key signatures are placed on a circle in order of number of accidentals.Ī scale is an ordered collection of half and whole steps (see Half and Whole Steps and Accidentals to review). The circle of fifths is a convenient visual for remembering major key signatures.In flat key signatures, the second-to-last flat is the tonic. In sharp key signatures, the last sharp is a half step below the tonic (the first note of a scale). The order of sharps in key signatures is F, C, G, D, A, E, B, while the order of flats is the opposite: B, E, A, D, G, C, F.A key signature, consisting of either sharps or flats, appears at the beginning of a composition, after a clef but before a time signature.

Each note of a major scale is also named with scale-degree names: tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, and leading tone.The syllables are do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, and ti.

