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<h5 class="unnumberedsubsubsec">Key signature</h5>
<p><a name="index-key-signature-154"></a><a name="index-g_t_005ckey-155"></a><a name="index-g_t_005ckey-156"></a>
<!-- duplicated in Key signature and Accidentals -->
<p><table class="cartouche" summary="cartouche" border="1"><tr><td>
<b>Note:</b> New users are sometimes confused about accidentals and
key signatures. In LilyPond, note names are the raw input; key
signatures and clefs determine how this raw input is displayed.
An unaltered note like <code>c</code> means ‘C natural’,
regardless of the key signature or clef. For more information,
see <a name="index-Accidentals-and-key-signatures-157"></a><a href="../lilypond-learning/Accidentals-and-key-signatures.html#Accidentals-and-key-signatures">Accidentals and key signatures</a>.
</td></tr></table>
<p>The key signature indicates the tonality in which a piece is
played. It is denoted by a set of alterations (flats or sharps)
at the start of the staff. The key signature may be altered:
<pre class="example">\key <var>pitch</var> <var>mode</var>
</pre>
<p><a name="index-g_t_005cmajor-158"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cmajor-159"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cminor-160"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cminor-161"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cionian-162"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cionian-163"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005clocrian-164"></a><a name="index-g_t_005clocrian-165"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005caeolian-166"></a><a name="index-g_t_005caeolian-167"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cmixolydian-168"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cmixolydian-169"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005clydian-170"></a><a name="index-g_t_005clydian-171"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cphrygian-172"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cphrygian-173"></a>
<a name="index-g_t_005cdorian-174"></a><a name="index-g_t_005cdorian-175"></a>
<a name="index-church-modes-176"></a><a name="index-modes-177"></a><a name="index-major-178"></a><a name="index-minor-179"></a><a name="index-ionian-180"></a><a name="index-locrian-181"></a><a name="index-aeolian-182"></a><a name="index-mixolydian-183"></a><a name="index-lydian-184"></a><a name="index-phrygian-185"></a><a name="index-dorian-186"></a>
Here, <var>mode</var> should be <code>\major</code> or <code>\minor</code> to get a
key signature of <var>pitch</var>-major or <var>pitch</var>-minor,
respectively. You may also use the standard mode names, also
called <var>church modes</var>: <code>\ionian</code>, <code>\dorian</code>,
<code>\phrygian</code>, <code>\lydian</code>, <code>\mixolydian</code>,
<code>\aeolian</code>, and <code>\locrian</code>.
<blockquote>
<pre class="verbatim">
\key g \major
fis1
f
fis
</pre>
<p>
<a href="../48/lily-2b700e54.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0" src="../48/lily-2b700e54.png" alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="noindent">
<h5 class="subsubheading">Selected Snippets</h5>
<p><em>Preventing natural signs from being printed when the key signature changes</em>
<p>When the key signature changes, natural signs are automatically printed
to cancel any accidentals from previous key signatures. This may be
prevented by setting to "false" the <code>printKeyCancellation</code>
property in the <code>Staff</code> context.
<blockquote>
<pre class="verbatim">
\relative c' {
\key d \major
a4 b cis d
\key g \minor
a4 bes c d
\set Staff.printKeyCancellation = ##f
\key d \major
a4 b cis d
\key g \minor
a4 bes c d
}
</pre>
<p>
<a href="../e5/lily-7a789b9a.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0" src="../e5/lily-7a789b9a.png" alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p><em>Non-traditional key signatures</em>
<p>The commonly used <code>\key</code> command sets the <code>keySignature</code>
property, in the <code>Staff</code> context.
<p>To create non-standard key signatures, set this property directly. The
format of this command is a list:
<p><code> \set Staff.keySignature = #`(((octave . step) . alter) ((octave
. step) . alter) ...) </code> where, for each element in the list,
<code>octave</code> specifies the octave (0 being the octave from middle C to
the B above), <code>step</code> specifies the note within the octave (0 means
C and 6 means B), and <code>alter</code> is <code>,SHARP ,FLAT ,DOUBLE-SHARP</code>
etc. (Note the leading comma.)
<p>Alternatively, for each item in the list, using the more concise format
<code>(step . alter)</code> specifies that the same alteration should hold in
all octaves.
<p>Here is an example of a possible key signature for generating a
whole-tone scale:
<blockquote>
<pre class="verbatim">
\relative c' {
\set Staff.keySignature = #`(((0 . 3) . ,SHARP) ((0 . 5) . ,FLAT) ((0 . 6) . ,FLAT))
c4 d e fis
aes4 bes c2
}
</pre>
<p>
<a href="../83/lily-eba9542e.ly">
<img align="middle"
border="0" src="../83/lily-eba9542e.png" alt="[image of music]">
</a>
</p>
</blockquote>
<p class="noindent">
<h5 class="subsubheading">See also</h5>
<p class="indent">
<p>Music Glossary:
<a name="index-church-mode-187"></a><a href="../music-glossary/church-mode.html#church-mode">church mode</a>,
<a name="index-scordatura-188"></a><a href="../music-glossary/scordatura.html#scordatura">scordatura</a>.
<p>Learning Manual:
<a name="index-Accidentals-and-key-signatures-189"></a><a href="../lilypond-learning/Accidentals-and-key-signatures.html#Accidentals-and-key-signatures">Accidentals and key signatures</a>.
<p>Snippets:
<a href="../../../input/lsr/lilypond-snippets/Pitches.html#Pitches">Pitches</a>.
<p>Internals Reference:
<a name="index-KeyChangeEvent-190"></a><a href="../lilypond-internals/KeyChangeEvent.html#KeyChangeEvent">KeyChangeEvent</a>,
<a name="index-Key_005fengraver-191"></a><a href="../lilypond-internals/Key_005fengraver.html#Key_005fengraver">Key_engraver</a>,
<a name="index-Key_005fperformer-192"></a><a href="../lilypond-internals/Key_005fperformer.html#Key_005fperformer">Key_performer</a>,
<a name="index-KeyCancellation-193"></a><a href="../lilypond-internals/KeyCancellation.html#KeyCancellation">KeyCancellation</a>,
<a name="index-KeySignature-194"></a><a href="../lilypond-internals/KeySignature.html#KeySignature">KeySignature</a>,
<a name="index-key_002dcancellation_002dinterface-195"></a><a href="../lilypond-internals/key_002dcancellation_002dinterface.html#key_002dcancellation_002dinterface">key-cancellation-interface</a>,
<a name="index-key_002dsignature_002dinterface-196"></a><a href="../lilypond-internals/key_002dsignature_002dinterface.html#key_002dsignature_002dinterface">key-signature-interface</a>.
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