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key.md

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source: https://www.w3.org/2021/06/musicxml40/musicxml-reference/elements/key/

downloaded: 2026-01-30T08:42:15.218Z

The element | MusicXML 4.0

MusicXML 4.0 >

MusicXML reference >
Elements >
key

The element

Parent element:

    <attributes>

The element represents a key signature. Both traditional and non-traditional key signatures are supported. Key signatures appear at the start of each system unless the print-object attribute has been set to "no".

Content

In this order

  • Exactly one of the following

    In this order

            <cancel> (Optional)





        <fifths> (Required)





        <mode> (Optional)

    In this order (Zero or more times)

            <key-step> (Required)





        <key-alter> (Required)





        <key-accidental> (Optional)

  • In this order

            <cancel> (Optional)





        <fifths> (Required)





        <mode> (Optional)

  • (Optional)

  • (Required)

  • (Optional)

  • In this order (Zero or more times)

            <key-step> (Required)





        <key-alter> (Required)





        <key-accidental> (Optional)

  • (Required)

  • (Required)

  • (Optional)

  • (Zero or more times)

    • Attributes

    Examples

    This element is used in the following examples:

    and , , , and , , , , (Non-Traditional), (Traditional), , , (Lines), , , , , Tutorial: Après un rêve, Tutorial: Chopin Prelude, Tutorial: Chord Symbols, Tutorial: Hello, World, Tutorial: Percussion, Tutorial: Tablature

    Name Type Required? Description
    color color No Indicates the color of an element.
    default-x tenths No Changes the computation of the default horizontal position. The origin is changed relative to the left-hand side of the note or the musical position within the bar. Positive x is right and negative x is left.This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the element. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both features should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
    default-y tenths No Changes the computation of the default vertical position. The origin is changed relative to the top line of the staff. Positive y is up and negative y is down.This attribute provides higher-resolution positioning data than the placement attribute. Applications reading a MusicXML file that can understand both attributes should generally rely on this attribute for its greater accuracy.
    font-family font-family No A comma-separated list of font names.
    font-size font-size No One of the CSS sizes or a numeric point size.
    font-style font-style No Normal or italic style.
    font-weight font-weight No Normal or bold weight.
    id ID No Specifies an ID that is unique to the entire document.
    number staff-number No Allows a key signature to apply to only the specified staff in the part. If absent, the key signature applies to all staves in the part.
    print-object yes-no No Specifies whether or not to print an object. It is yes if not specified.
    relative-x tenths No Changes the horizontal position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-x attribute. Positive x is right and negative x is left. It should be interpreted in the context of the element or directive attribute if those are present.
    relative-y tenths No Changes the vertical position relative to the default position, either as computed by the individual program, or as overridden by the default-y attribute. Positive y is up and negative y is down. It should be interpreted in the context of the placement attribute if that is present.