key signatures (let me see of I got this right.)

[WhiteKong]

ok I just need some confirmation on this, so say the key signature on some sheet music is 4 four sharps, this means it's in the scale E major since since the E ionian scale has 4 sharp notes (here's were i need clarification) if it's in the key of e major then you sharp any note in the song that is sharped in the e major scale. is this right?

[Rudreax]

Don't think in "E Ionian scale" since you really only need to think of it at "E major scale". And yes, any note sharped in the E major scale (F, C, G, D) will be automatically sharped in whatever piece you're playing, unless otherwise noted.

[mambo4]

you got it right. If a pitch is sharp or flat in the key signature, it's played that way throughout the piece.

...unless you come across an accidental (a sharp or flat next to a specific note.) Accidentals alter the pitch from the key signature until the next bar line, then every note goes back to they key of the piece.

[Stumbo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accidental_(music)

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by Rudreax

Don't think in "E Ionian scale" since you really only need to think of it at "E major scale". And yes, any note sharped in the E major scale (F, C, G, D) will be automatically sharped in whatever piece you're playing, unless otherwise noted.

Ionian scale = major scale