1. Key signatures can be viewed as lists of flats or sharps occurring throughout a musical example, section or composition and affecting all notes of the same name no matter where they appear on the staff. They are, of course, much more than lists; they help summarize and remind us of tonalities.
• In major sharp signatures, the last sharp (farthest to the right) is a half step below the key name.
• In major flat signatures, the next-to-last flat names the key (F major has one flat).
