MusicianCV · TROrder of flats
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Tonal centres and signatures
Order of flats · B E A D G C F → 1♭ → 7♭
A key signature sets default accidentals. Listen to phrase endings and accompaniment to establish the tonal centre. Different centres can share a signature.
Example
Key or operation / check · B E A D G C F / 1♭ → 7♭
Key or operation / checkB E A D G C F 1♭ → 7♭
Try it
Is the signature alone sufficient to choose between two candidate keys?
Answer
Look for a cadential phrase and bass motion. Distinguish local alterations from the signature.Related topics
Reading key signaturesReferences
Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom · Further reading
Subject-expert review pending.