How to easily identify key signatures in a flash!

Written by Bernardt James (aka Cobus van der Walt) on 29 March, 2018

I’m sure you’ve heard of the “Circle of fifths”?
Surely there must be another way ?
Well… there is an easy/easier way:

How to identify sharps key signatures:

How to identify flat key signatures:

Look at your given key signature.
Identify the 2nd last flat b.
That is your key !
Note: the only flat key signature you’ll have to remember is F, because there is no 2nd last flat b.
F major = 1 flat b = Bb

Also learn your "Father Charles" mnemonic:

Sharps # Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Flats b Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles's Father

This is the order of your flats / sharps(The correct order they must be written down)

Now you can work out backwards to write your key signatures on your own 😊

I really hope this helps.