3 sharps, 2 flats... piano help??

Question

What does it mean when there are 3 sharps or 2 sharps or 2 flats at the beginning of piano sheet music? Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi Tiger,

That is the Key Signature... meaning it is a designation for what key the piece is in.   So if it is in the key of Bb major - there will be 2 flats throughout the piece... the Bb and the Eb.   Same with the sharps.

If the piece is in A major the Key Signature will designate it by having 3 sharps...  F#, C# and G#...  and so on.

Hope that helps and

  Thanks for reading.  :))

Answer 2

This is very common for all instruments, and goes for any number of sharps or flats:

Its called a key signature.  What does it do?  It alters one or more  notes throughout the whole piece.  Why do we as musicians use it?  To make the music easier to read, otherwise it would get cluttered with too many accidentals (sharps, flats, naturals, double sharps and double flats).

So, lets take your first key signature of 3 sharps.  Right away I know that we're in the key of A major or F# minor, which tells me that F, C, and G are all going to be sharped through the whole piece.

As for the two flats, that's B-flat major or G minor.  The B and E are going to be flatted the entire time.

Keep an eye out- sometimes the publisher will print a "courtesy accidental" as a friendly reminder that you need to play a note flat or sharp.  This doesn't mean to play it another half step higher/lower.  There are separate marks for that (the double flat and double sharp).  And, also, remember that accidentals "die off" at the end of a measure.

Answer 3

I believe that would be the key signature. Look it up.