Help understanding key signatures?

Question

ALRIGHT so a summarized question about key signatures!

If they have two sharps, they're in the Key of D, right? No matter WHAT note the sharp is on? Does it matter what notes the sharps are on???

Like, can I just memorize the circle of fifths? Or is there other things to study to learn it?
If you can give me any more tips on key signatures, learning them, the circle of fifths and so forth, PLEASE DO. I want to learn this stuff as detailed as possible. Sorry if I'm not making any sense.

Answer 1

Here you Go! http://www.zentao.com/guitar/theory/circle.html

This Link Should help a lot about the circle of fiths!

The whole key signature thing gets easier with time and practice. And a little note for the future, if you google things you might get an answer more tailored to what your looking for ( :

Answer 2

If the key signature has 2 sharps, those 2 sharps will ALWAYS be on F and C, which ALWAYS signifies the key of D, because the D major scale is: D E F# G A B C# D. Or the relative minor of B minor, which uses the same notes and therefore has the same key signature: B C# D E F# G A B. See?



Likewise, if you see 1 flat in the key signature, the flat will always be on the B, signifying the key of F: F G A Bb C D E F. Or its relative minor key of D minor, which uses the same notes and key signature: D E F G A Bb C D.



If you understand how scales are constructed, you'll understand that sharps OR flats don't appear in a scale arbitrarily or randomly -- they're there for a very specific reason. Learn how major and minor scales are constructed, and key signatures will make A LOT more sense.

Answer 3

G major has one sharp, F which is placed on the top line in treble clef. D major has two, F and C, the C is added in the second space from the top. A major has three, F, C, and G which is on the top of the stave E major has four, F,C,G and D which sits on the second line from the top B major has five, F.C.G.D and A which goes in the second space up from the bottom F# major has six, all the above plus E in the first space from the top. C# major has seven, all above plus B# which goes on the middle line. F has one flat, Bb which is placed on the middle line Bb has two, new one is Eb which goes in the first space from the top Eb has three, new is Ab, goes in the second space up from bottom Ab four, new is Db, goes on second line down Dd five, new is Gb which sits on the second line up from bottom Gb six, Cb goes in the second space from top.