MusicianCV · TR

One-flat key pair

Open the interactive module

Tonal centres and signatures

One-flat key pair · F / Dm → B♭

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 · F / Dm / B♭

Key or operation / check

F / Dm B♭

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

Scale degrees and tonal centre

References

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

Subject-expert review pending.