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Flat keys are major and minor keys whose key signatures contain one or more flats (♭). They appear on the left side of the circle of fifths and are commonly used in many styles of music.
What are flat keys?
Each time you move one step counterclockwise around the circle of fifths, one additional flat is added to the key signature. The flats appear in a fixed order:
B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭ and F♭.
Examples of flat keys include F major (one flat), B-flat major (two flats) and E-flat major (three flats). Every major flat key also has a related minor key with the same key signature.
How are flat keys used in piano playing?
For piano players, flat keys often involve a greater use of the black keys. Although they may seem challenging at first, many pianists find them comfortable because the black keys fit naturally under the fingers.
Flat keys are widely used in jazz, blues, soul and wind instrument music. Becoming familiar with them is an important step toward playing confidently in every key.