Unit 3, Lesson 1 of 4
Brainlag Plus

Key signatures up to six sharps or flats

Music theory, Keys and scales, 14 minutes

The order of sharps and flats, how to name a major key from its key signature, relative minors, and the keys with six sharps or flats that are new at Grade 5.

The order of sharps and flats

Sharps and flats in a key signature always come in the same order:

  • Sharps: F, C, G, D, A, E, B.
  • Flats: B, E, A, D, G, C, F (the sharps backwards).

A key signature with three sharps is always F sharp, C sharp and G sharp, written in that order.

Six sharps: F, C, G, D, A, E
Six flats: B, E, A, D, G, C

The rest of this lesson and its 5 practice questions are in Plus.

Screen 1 of 5, free to read.

  • 5 exam-style questions, marked as you go, each with a worked solution
  • Anything you get wrong is saved to your flashcards