E major has four sharps in its key signature.
This means that in the key of E major, the notes F, C, G, and D are always played as F♯, C♯, G♯, and D♯, unless otherwise indicated by an accidental (like a natural sign). These sharps are consistently present throughout a piece written in E major. The order of sharps in key signatures follows the pattern "Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle". Therefore, F, C, G, and D are the first four sharps.
Here's a breakdown:
- Key Signature: The key signature at the beginning of a piece of music indicates which notes are consistently sharp or flat throughout the composition.
- E Major: The key of E major is built upon the E major scale.
- Sharps: Sharps raise the pitch of a note by a half step.
Therefore, any piece written in the key of E major will display a key signature with four sharps, indicating F♯, C♯, G♯, and D♯.
