MusicianCV · TR

Four-sharp key pair

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Tonal centres and signatures

Four-sharp key pair · E / C♯m → F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯

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 · E / C♯m / F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯

Key or operation / check

E / C♯m F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯

Try it

Is the signature alone sufficient to choose between two candidate keys?

AnswerLook for a cadential phrase and bass motion. Distinguish local alterations from the signature.

Related topics

Relative major and minor

References

Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom · Further reading

Subject-expert review pending.