Key signature names and translations

When a particular musical key or key signature is not described in the English language, there are two main systems that are used.

Related Topics:
Musical key - Key signature - English - Language

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Tonic sulfa - used in Italian and French key references.
• German key notation - used in German key references.

One uses a translation from the pitch translation table below and appends a major/minor alteration from the table where required. Note that it is common to only append a 'minor' alteration as a key description missing an alteration is automatically assumed to be major.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For example, to describe Bach's Mass in B minor one could use:

Related Topics:
Bach's - Mass in B minor

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• B minor (English)
• Si mineur (French)
• H moll (German)
• Si minore (Italian)

An apostrophe is usually added in the German notation scheme between the pitch and the alteration, and due to its terse nature, the 'major' indicator is invariably appended.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~