Can someone explain how you figure out what key a piece of music is in?

Question:I sing.
I probably need to know this.

Also, does anyone have any tips on how to sight-read better?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I sing.
I probably need to know this.

Also, does anyone have any tips on how to sight-read better?

There is an excellent website - musictheory.net - that will explain all of this for you. You can't go wrong by learning this type of stuff if you are serious about musical studies!

In a nutshell:
If you are dealing with flats, name the second one from the right.

2b = BbM or gm
3b = EbM or cm
4b = AbM or fm
5b = DbM or bbm (B-Flat minor)
6b = GbM or ebm
7b = CbM or abm

If you are dealing with sharps, go 1/2 step higher than the last sharp on the right.

1# = GM or em
2# = DM or bm
3# = AM or f#m
4# = EM or c#m
5# = BM or g#m
6# = F#M or d#m
7# = C#M or a#m

Memorize:
no sharps and flats = C Major or a minor
1 Flat = F Major or d minor

Make Sure to check the bass of the last chord as this will usually be the name of the key you are in. That way you will know if you are in the major or minor.

Best Wishes!

Check the key signature, located at the beginning of the staff. The flats or sharps will tell you the key signature.

Secondly, improving sight-reading involves practice and sight-reading often. I suggest you find a simple method book and sight-read from it 15 minutes per day. Know the techniques of sight-reading....
*Check the key signature
*Check the time signature
*Scan the piece for accidentals, large skips, meter changes, key changes, tempo changes, range, difficult-looking rhythms, and the like.

The more you sight read, the better you get.

To find the key, look at the very beginning of the score and next to the clef, there will be sharps, flats, or nothing. The sharps, flats, or nothing will identify what key it's in. An example is if there aren't any sharps or flats, then you're playing/singing C Major.

I believe that the best way to improve sight reading is to practice an instrument and/or do music theory - just write the notes on the staff and identify them, look for any signs you might not recognize instantly and practice those, etc.

Good luck singing!

Each key signature has a different number of Sharps & Flats - the key of C major has none.
In looking at the Sharps & Flats you'll know the key the particular piece is in.

The Key of G Major has one Sharp ( F Sharp), The Key of F Major has one Flat ( B Flat) see what I mean?

look at the sharps and flats to figure it out, to figure out major or minor, look at the first and last notes in the piece

use flash cards