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What key is one sharp?

Published in Music Theory 2 mins read

The key with one sharp in its key signature is G major (or E minor).

Here's a breakdown:

  • Key Signatures: Key signatures are a set of sharps or flats placed at the beginning of a musical staff to indicate the key of a piece.

  • Sharps and Flats: Sharps (#) raise a note by a half step, while flats (♭) lower a note by a half step.

  • The Key of G Major: G major has one sharp, which is F sharp (F#). This means that every F in the key of G major is raised by a half step.

  • The Relative Minor: Every major key has a relative minor key that shares the same key signature. The relative minor of G major is E minor. E minor also has one sharp (F#) in its key signature.

Here's a simple table to illustrate:

Number of Sharps Major Key Minor Key
1 G Major E Minor

Therefore, when you see a key signature with only one sharp, the music is either in G major or E minor. The actual key can be determined by analyzing the melody and harmony of the piece.

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