Keys and Key Signatures
When a song consists of notes from a particular scale, it is said to be written in the key which has the same name as that scale. For example, if a song contains notes from the G major scale, it is said to be in the key of G major. Instead of writing a sharp sign before every F# note, it is easier to write just one sharp sign after the treble clef.
This means that all F notes on the staff are played as F#, even though there is no flat sign placed before the note. This is called a key signature. A key signature consists of one or more sharps or flats written after the treble clef, or in the case of the key of C major no sharps or flats. Because the G majorscale contains the note F#, the key signature for the key of G major will consist of an F# note written after the clef.
This is the key signature for the key of G major. It has one sharp sign after the treble clef.
The C major scale contains no sharps or flats, therefore the key of C major contains no sharps or flats.
The followings songs are written in the key of G major.
This melody was written by famous classical composer Brahms. There are no breath marks in this piece, so work out the best places to take a breath. When there are no rests in a piece, it is usually best to take a breath at the end of a musical phrase.
