How to tell the key of your sheet music

The idea for this video was inspired by Andrew Rood, who asked me to upload a video on how to tell what key you're in by looking at the key signature. I hadn't done this yet, and it sounded like a great idea for anybody just starting out! Hope it helps!

[sonam-xzif]

ive literally looked for this for ages but could never seem to understand, this made it so simple i had no idea it was this easy!

[radiorexandy]

Thank you, James, for following up on my suggestion! Now, after hearing my name three times mentioned, I guess I'm world-famous! :-)

And, after, Lo, these many years, I learned something new: My piano teacher taught me to look at the rightmost flat in the key signature and count down four half-steps. I like your method better. It's more direct. I like that! Cheers!

[verdiernoyama]

*Recap ( WITH A TIP AT THE END OF THE COMMENT TO KNOW IF YOU'RE IN MAJOR OR MINOR SCALE ) :*
So to begin, you should know that :
- *The order of the sharps (#)* is Fa Do Sol Re La Mi Si/ *F; C; G; D; A; E; B*
- *The order of the flats (b)* is Si Mi La Re Sol Do Fa/ *B; E; A; D; G; C; F.*

You should know these orders by heart, it'll help you guess how many alterations there are in a scale etc..

*_To find the key of a song_* :
- *For the sharps* : For example, let's imagine that there are three sharps in the key of your song [ Fa#/ *F#;* Do#/ *C#;* Sol#/ *G#* (it's the order of sharps that I mentioned earlier) ], you will have to take *the last* sharp note in the key, here It's *G#* ( Fa#/ F#; Do#/ C#; *Sol/ G#* ) and you will have to increase it with a half tone/semi tone [ Basically, you will have to take the note which is after the G# in the normal order and it's A ( C D E F _G_ *A* B... ) ]. *So we know we're in A Major scale* ( we also now know that A major has 3 sharps ( F# C# and G# )... *BUT we can also be in its minor relative* ( The neighboring scale having *the same number of sharps in the key ).*
The relative of A Major is F# minor.
( I will give a tip at the end to know if we are in Major scale or Minor scale )

- *For the flats :* for example, let's imagine that there are three flats in the key of the sheet music of your song [ Sib/ *Bb;* Mib/ *Eb;* Lab/ *Ab* (it's the order of flats that I mentioned earlier) ], *for the flat you'll simply have to take the penultimate flat in the key* which is therefore E ( B b; *E b;* A b ). *So we know that we're in the E Scale... Or it's relative minor scale* ( The neighboring scale having the same number of flats in the key ).

*_Tip:_* So to know if our song is in major scale or its relative minor, you have to look on what note you start and on what note you finish on the bass part of your music score ( The bass has a F clef instead of the usual G clef ).

For example:
For our first example ( with the sharps ), we saw that we were either in A Major or in its relative minor which is F# minor, so to know the exact scale between these two, we look at the note of the beginning and the end on the part reserved for the bass on the music score, if the note is for example an A at the beginning and at the end, there is no doubt, we know that we are in A major.

Hope it helps you

[TheDamnedScientist]

You have taught me the things in a single video that nothing on the internet could ever teach me. I always wanted to know how to identify signatures by looking at them. Now I am looking for something on relative minors. Thanks a lot sir for such an amazing video.

[jamesprice]

Man, you are a lifesaver. I love music but do not get all the notation stuff but have to take a CSET on it and you explained it so that even I could understand it. BRAVO! Thank you.

[margaritagraeber]

Thank you, James! This was amazing so very helpful. So happy to know that there are simple rules to follow! That is so much better than having to memorize all of it. You are so blessed! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!!! YAY! Made my day!

[jozelle]

I can not tell you how greatful for this video. I've watched a few other videos similar to this but your explained it best. Thank you!!

[Lesliestevens.fm]

That was so amazing and so easy . oh my gosh Thank you so much for that. I feel like I accomplished so much in music just learning that. Now I take all my music books and look at it and know exactly what key I'm in even though it says what it is, I still practice and it is is absolutely so easy and amazing. Thank you so much for this, I learned a lot.

[andimousepast]

This saved me from getting a bad grade on my music test, thank you!

[ash]

Wow that helped A LOT ! You've explained everything soooo clearly and make it easy for me and I'm a complete beginner ! Make it fun to learn !!!

[dtoften]

What about the major versus minor scales such as C major and A minor?

[rainful]

Great lesson! Thank you! You really simplified this process.

[paralleltripper]

Dang, no time wasted while talking and so clear! So good with your words! Thanks this helped 👍

[dreamingbiglivingbold]

Thank you so much! I've been looking for a video like this so you just made my day!

[ubifidessemperspes]

Thank you so much for your clear and thorough explanation!

[ajwenkhing]

Thank you I am also looking for this and am with you here learning it.

[scientistiq]

This is a short but very informative video. Outstanding!

[hugoberganza]

Awesome! I was so confused before! You just saved my frustration, thank you so much

[darcyduncantech]

Thanks for this, it has taken me 2 years of piano to understand this! :)

[sachinholalkere]

I had been searching this for months. You helped me. Thankyou very much