Modified CO5 (to accommodate the extremes). So there you have it: starting between F and B-flat, the order of sharps goes clockwise around the circle, and the order of flats goes counter-clockwise around the circle.Ĭomments for Order of Sharps and Flats in Key Signatures Those are the 4 places on the staff you put the flats when writing the key signature. So you write flat signs on the B, E, A, and D lines/spaces. Looking at the imaginary line, you see going counter-clockwise from it, the letter names are B-flat, E-flat, A-flat, and D-flat. Look on the circle of fifths, the first 2 letters going clockwise from that line are F and C.Įxample #2: You are writing the key signature for A-flat. The first sharp goes on F and the second goes on C.

The letters are the lines/spaces you would write the sharp/flats on when you are writing the key signature.Įxample #1: You are writing the key of D. Here is how you can use the Circle of Fifths to learn the order of sharps and flats in key signaturesĭraw an imaginary line between F and B-flat on the circle of fifths. Order of Sharps and Flats in Key Signatures

What is the order of flats