Key signature
The signs are an indication of musical notation that indicate the key in tonal music. They stand directly behind the clef before the time signature and apply for either a whole musical piece or within the same clock specified by a to. The totality of the sign of a music piece is referred to as the preliminary drawing.
The signs are as notational symbols for the alteration of a master sound identical to the accidentals ( accident, plural: accidents or accidents ), from which they differ, however, by another use: accidentals are directly before a certain note and only for a particular clock validity. Also sign are valid for all octave ranges, accidentals but only for each designated pitch.
The number and type of sign can be read from the circle of fifths: Starting from C Major ( relative minor A minor ) have the keys clockwise respectively a cross ( ♯ ) as a sign of more counter-clockwise in each case a Be ( ♭ ) more. The arrangement of the signs is standardized this: starting from the F sharp and B is a fifth apart each a cross or ♭ added. Crosses and Be are never used as a mixed sign.
It can theoretically up to seven signs occur because the scale has seven different naturals. For readability, only keys are up to six signs used in exceptional cases, seven prefix in the music practice. Keys with eight or more signs would not be possible using double crosses and double -b, as an eighth sign on a line or a gap would be that already is another sign, so it would override this.
Rationale and history
The use of signs is essentially a convention that is for the clarity of the score. In principle, you can turn any piece of music also record exclusively with accidentals, but would have to be repeated once per clock before each note. Here, the B major scale, for example, listed only with accidentals:
Here the same scale in the keys of B major:
Sketches with a single ♭, the oldest accidentals are known since the Middle Ages. Sketches with more than one ♭ first appeared in the 16th century, sketches with crosses from the 17th century. The order of the sign was initially not standardized. Also could stand in scores contradictory sketches, that is, the individual voices could be recorded with different sketches.
Keys and altered tones
Parallel keys (such as C major and A minor ) have the same sign, the same or Variant keys (such as C major and C minor ) differ by 3 signs.
Ratio of sketch and key
The sketch of a piece of music is not to be confused with its key. In general, they are closely related, but are not necessarily identical.
Baroque music that is in a minor key, was formerly often listed with a sketch that got along with less ♭ than usual nowadays. For example, pieces in C Minor were often quoted with only two ♭, because the ace in the ascending melodic minor scale in any case should be resolved regularly to an A.
A temporary key change ( modulation ) during a piece of music can be characterized by a change of sign, but it does not. It is also possible to maintain the sketch of the home key and record the pitches of the new key only with accidentals.
In any case, from the sketch alone is the key not be read with certainty. Whether the piece in major or minor is, it can be seen only from the musical context. In general, the consideration of Schlusstons or - Accord delivers the most important indication. Other tonal systems such as the modes that were originally used exclusively unsigned, can be transposed by sketch. Analogous to the Dur-/Moll-Tonarten One speaks, for example, of C - or D- Dorian Phrygian. Atonal music is often listed solely with accidentals.
With the use of transposing musical instruments, which is listed drawing in relationship must be set to the root of the instrument to obtain the actual sounding key.
Usage
In colloquial usage, it is also common, slightly out of focus also call the temporary accidentals to " sign "; for better differentiation should in this case, the standing at the beginning of the grading system signs are called "general signs ".
Sign change
Changes the key within a piece of music, then this can be represented by a change of sign in the notation. Traditionally existing signs were dissolved in the process. In modern notation this is, however, usually not more common.