Overview

Musical Keys

Musical keys are essential elements that determine the scalar foundation and mood of a piece of music. Major keys have a bright and open sound, while minor keys have a dark and introspective quality. Following the circle of fifths, there are 12 major keys and corresponding 12 minor keys, each with different key signatures. These keys provide a fundamental framework for composition and performance in Western music.

music theory musical keys major key minor key circle of fifths key signature scale
code slug name description keySignature relativeMinor sharpsFlats type relativeMajor
0 c-major C Major The most fundamental major key with no sharps or flats. a-minor 0 major
1 g-major G Major A major key with one sharp. F♯ e-minor 1 major
2 d-major D Major A major key with two sharps. F♯, C♯ b-minor 2 major
3 a-major A Major A major key with three sharps. F♯, C♯, G♯ f-sharp-minor 3 major
4 e-major E Major A major key with four sharps. F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯ c-sharp-minor 4 major
5 b-major B Major A major key with five sharps. F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ g-sharp-minor 5 major
6 f-sharp-major F♯ Major A major key with six sharps. F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯ d-sharp-minor 6 major
7 c-sharp-major C♯ Major A major key with seven sharps. F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯ a-sharp-minor 7 major
-1 f-major F Major A major key with one flat. B♭ d-minor -1 major
-2 b-flat-major B♭ Major A major key with two flats. B♭, E♭ g-minor -2 major
-3 e-flat-major E♭ Major A major key with three flats. B♭, E♭, A♭ c-minor -3 major
-4 a-flat-major A♭ Major A major key with four flats. B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭ f-minor -4 major
-5 d-flat-major D♭ Major A major key with five flats. B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭ b-flat-minor -5 major
-6 g-flat-major G♭ Major A major key with six flats. B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭ e-flat-minor -6 major
-7 c-flat-major C♭ Major A major key with seven flats. B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭ a-flat-minor -7 major
0m a-minor A Minor The most fundamental minor key with no sharps or flats. 0 minor c-major
1m e-minor E Minor A minor key with one sharp. F♯ 1 minor g-major
2m b-minor B Minor A minor key with two sharps. F♯, C♯ 2 minor d-major
3m f-sharp-minor F♯ Minor A minor key with three sharps. F♯, C♯, G♯ 3 minor a-major
4m c-sharp-minor C♯ Minor A minor key with four sharps. F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯ 4 minor e-major
5m g-sharp-minor G♯ Minor A minor key with five sharps. F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ 5 minor b-major
6m d-sharp-minor D♯ Minor A minor key with six sharps. F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯ 6 minor f-sharp-major
7m a-sharp-minor A♯ Minor A minor key with seven sharps. F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯, B♯ 7 minor c-sharp-major
-1m d-minor D Minor A minor key with one flat. B♭ -1 minor f-major
-2m g-minor G Minor A minor key with two flats. B♭, E♭ -2 minor b-flat-major
-3m c-minor C Minor A minor key with three flats. B♭, E♭, A♭ -3 minor e-flat-major
-4m f-minor F Minor A minor key with four flats. B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭ -4 minor a-flat-major
-5m b-flat-minor B♭ Minor A minor key with five flats. B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭ -5 minor d-flat-major
-6m e-flat-minor E♭ Minor A minor key with six flats. B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭ -6 minor g-flat-major
-7m a-flat-minor A♭ Minor A minor key with seven flats. B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭, F♭ -7 minor c-flat-major

A list of musical keys (major and minor keys) in music.