Key Signatures
Definition
Key signatures are symbols placed at the beginning of each staff line in sheet music to indicate which pitches are altered throughout the piece. They help musicians identify which major or minor scale is being used.
Analogy
Think of key signatures as road signs on a map. They guide musicians through different musical landscapes by indicating which sharps (#) or flats (b) they will encounter along their journey.
Related terms
Relative Keys: Pairs of major and minor keys that share the same key signature but start on different tonic notes.
Circle of Fifths: A visual representation of the relationship between major and minor keys, organized in a circular pattern based on the interval of a fifth.
Transposition: The process of changing the key of a piece by shifting all its pitches up or down by a consistent interval.
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