A key signature consists of a series of sharps or flats written immediately
to the right of the clef. A key signature can represent either a major key or
a minor key. The actual key, major or minor, must be determined by studying
the notes and chords used in the music. When a sharp or flat is used in a key
signature, all notes of that name appearing in the music are automatically sharped
or flatted. For example, in E major every F, C, G, and D is sharped.
