C major key signature

The Solution below shows the C major key signature on the treble clef and bass clef.

The Lesson steps then explain how to write the key signature using both clefs, including the display order and line / space staff positions of the notes, and the sharp / flat accidentals.

For a quick summary of this topic, have a look at Key signature.

Major key signature keys
Key[C]C#DbDD#EbEE#FbFF#GbGG#AbAA#BbBB#CbAll On 1 page

Solution

1. C major key signature

This step shows the C major scale key signature on the treble clef and bass clef.

The C major scale has no sharp or flat notes.

This major scale key is on the Circle of 5ths - C major on circle of 5ths, which means that it is a commonly used major scale key.

C major scale has no sharp or flat notes
No.12345678
NoteCDEFGABC

These note names are shown below on the treble clef followed by the bass clef.

On the treble clef, Middle C is shown with an orange ledger line below the main 5 staff lines.

On the bass clef, Middle C is shown with an orange ledger line above the main 5 staff lines.

C major key signature

C major key signature

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

Lesson steps

1. Piano key note names

This step shows the white and black note names on a piano keyboard so that the note names are familiar for later steps, and to show that the note names start repeating themselves after 12 notes.

The white keys are named using the alphabetic letters A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, which is a pattern that repeats up the piano keyboard.

Every white or black key could have a flat(b) or sharp(#) accidental name, depending on how that note is used. In a later step, if sharp or flat notes are used, the exact accidental names will be chosen.

Sharp and flat note names

The audio files below play every note shown on the piano above, so middle C (marked with an orange line at the bottom) is the 2nd note heard.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

2. C major scale notes

This step shows the number of sharps or flats in the scale so that the number of symbols needed for the key signature can be identified.

The C major scale has no sharp or flat notes.

As there are no sharps or flats in this scale, there are no sharp or flat symbols to show next to the treble or bass clef for the key signature.

C major scale has no sharp or flat notes
No.12345678
NoteCDEFGABC

C major scale

C major scale

C major scale

To understand why the C major scale has no sharp or flat notes, have a look at the C major scale page, which shows how to identify the note positions and names for this scale.

To see a key signature showing all possible sharp symbols next to the treble and bass clef, have a look at the C# major key signature.

To see a key signature showing all possible flat symbols next to the treble and bass clef, have a look at the Cb major key signature.

bass clef icon  Bass Clef
treble clef icon  Treble Clef

Related Keys and Topics

Major key signature keys
Key[C]C#DbDD#EbEE#FbFF#GbGG#AbAA#BbBB#CbAll On 1 page
Music theory links in the key of C
Related linksC major key signature,  C,  C major scale,  C relative minor
Minor scalesC natural minor scale,  C harmonic minor scale,  C melodic minor scale
Other scalesC chromatic scale,  C major pentatonic scale,  C minor pentatonic scale,  C blues scale
IntervalsC-1st,  C-2nd,  C-3rd,  C-4th,  C-5th,  C-6th,  C-7th,  C-8th
Circle of 5thsLearn the circle of fifths,  C minor on circle of 5ths
Modesionian,  C dorian,  C phrygian,  C lydian,  C mixolydian,  C aeolian,  C locrian
Triad chordsC diminished,  C minor,  C major,  C augmented,  C suspended 2nd,  C suspended 4th
6th chordsC minor 6th,  C major 6th
7th chordsC dim 7,  C half-dim7,  C min 7,  C min-maj 7,  C dom 7,  C maj 7,  C aug 7,  C aug-maj 7,  C maj 7 sus2,  C dom 7 sus4,  C maj 7 sus4
Scale triadsC major triad chords,  C minor triad chords,  C harmonic minor chords,  C melodic minor chords
Scale 7thsC major 7th chords,  C minor 7th chords,  C harmonic minor 7th chords,  C melodic minor 7th chords
Triad modesionian,  C dorian,  C phrygian,  C lydian,  C mixolydian,  C aeolian,  C locrian
7th modesionian,  C dorian,  C phrygian,  C lydian,  C mixolydian,  C aeolian,  C locrian
CadencesC major perfect authentic,  C major imperfect authentic,  C major plagal,  C major half,  C major deceptive