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Key signatures

This is a list of all possible key signatures in traditional Western music, as well as the corresponding keys for each of the seven modes. It aims to be as complete as possible—nonstandard keys with double flats and double sharps are included.

What's a mode?

If you're not familiar with modes, you've probably heard the terms "major" and "minor." Roughly speaking, the seven modes are a generalization of this concept; Ionian mode corresponds to major, and Aeolian mode corresponds to minor. Wikipedia goes into greater detail.

Why did you make this?

Firstly, because I haven't found another resource on the internet that gives key signatures for all seven modes on all possible notes, including double flats and double sharps.

Secondly, because seeing all of them laid out in a chart like this reveals some interesting patterns. For example, it makes it obvious why the trick of reading the second-to-last flat to determine a major key works. And it makes it easy to come up with similar tricks—for example, going a half step up from the last flat gives the corresponding Mixolydian key.

Source code

The source code that was used to generate this page is available on Github.

 

Key signature	Lydian	Ionian	Mixolydian	Dorian	Aeolian	Phrygian	Locrian

	F𝄫Lydian	C𝄫Ionian	G𝄫Mixolydian	D𝄫Dorian	A𝄫Aeolian	E𝄫Phrygian	B𝄫Locrian
	C𝄫Lydian	G𝄫Ionian	D𝄫Mixolydian	A𝄫Dorian	E𝄫Aeolian	B𝄫Phrygian	F♭Locrian
	G𝄫Lydian	D𝄫Ionian	A𝄫Mixolydian	E𝄫Dorian	B𝄫Aeolian	F♭Phrygian	C♭Locrian
	D𝄫Lydian	A𝄫Ionian	E𝄫Mixolydian	B𝄫Dorian	F♭Aeolian	C♭Phrygian	G♭Locrian
	A𝄫Lydian	E𝄫Ionian	B𝄫Mixolydian	F♭Dorian	C♭Aeolian	G♭Phrygian	D♭Locrian
	E𝄫Lydian	B𝄫Ionian	F♭Mixolydian	C♭Dorian	G♭Aeolian	D♭Phrygian	A♭Locrian
	B𝄫Lydian	F♭Ionian	C♭Mixolydian	G♭Dorian	D♭Aeolian	A♭Phrygian	E♭Locrian
	F♭Lydian	C♭Ionian	G♭Mixolydian	D♭Dorian	A♭Aeolian	E♭Phrygian	B♭Locrian
	C♭Lydian	G♭Ionian	D♭Mixolydian	A♭Dorian	E♭Aeolian	B♭Phrygian	FLocrian
	G♭Lydian	D♭Ionian	A♭Mixolydian	E♭Dorian	B♭Aeolian	FPhrygian	CLocrian
	D♭Lydian	A♭Ionian	E♭Mixolydian	B♭Dorian	FAeolian	CPhrygian	GLocrian
	A♭Lydian	E♭Ionian	B♭Mixolydian	FDorian	CAeolian	GPhrygian	DLocrian
	E♭Lydian	B♭Ionian	FMixolydian	CDorian	GAeolian	DPhrygian	ALocrian
	B♭Lydian	FIonian	CMixolydian	GDorian	DAeolian	APhrygian	ELocrian
	FLydian	CIonian	GMixolydian	DDorian	AAeolian	EPhrygian	BLocrian
	CLydian	GIonian	DMixolydian	ADorian	EAeolian	BPhrygian	F♯Locrian
	GLydian	DIonian	AMixolydian	EDorian	BAeolian	F♯Phrygian	C♯Locrian
	DLydian	AIonian	EMixolydian	BDorian	F♯Aeolian	C♯Phrygian	G♯Locrian
	ALydian	EIonian	BMixolydian	F♯Dorian	C♯Aeolian	G♯Phrygian	D♯Locrian
	ELydian	BIonian	F♯Mixolydian	C♯Dorian	G♯Aeolian	D♯Phrygian	A♯Locrian
	BLydian	F♯Ionian	C♯Mixolydian	G♯Dorian	D♯Aeolian	A♯Phrygian	E♯Locrian
	F♯Lydian	C♯Ionian	G♯Mixolydian	D♯Dorian	A♯Aeolian	E♯Phrygian	B♯Locrian
	C♯Lydian	G♯Ionian	D♯Mixolydian	A♯Dorian	E♯Aeolian	B♯Phrygian	F𝄪Locrian
	G♯Lydian	D♯Ionian	A♯Mixolydian	E♯Dorian	B♯Aeolian	F𝄪Phrygian	C𝄪Locrian
	D♯Lydian	A♯Ionian	E♯Mixolydian	B♯Dorian	F𝄪Aeolian	C𝄪Phrygian	G𝄪Locrian
	A♯Lydian	E♯Ionian	B♯Mixolydian	F𝄪Dorian	C𝄪Aeolian	G𝄪Phrygian	D𝄪Locrian
	E♯Lydian	B♯Ionian	F𝄪Mixolydian	C𝄪Dorian	G𝄪Aeolian	D𝄪Phrygian	A𝄪Locrian
	B♯Lydian	F𝄪Ionian	C𝄪Mixolydian	G𝄪Dorian	D𝄪Aeolian	A𝄪Phrygian	E𝄪Locrian
	F𝄪Lydian	C𝄪Ionian	G𝄪Mixolydian	D𝄪Dorian	A𝄪Aeolian	E𝄪Phrygian	B𝄪Locrian