Musical notation its "natural" form, which means that any sharps or flats applying to that note from the key signature or from accidentals are cancelled. Sometimes a courtesy accidental is used in music where it is not technically required, to remind the musician of what pitch the key signature requires. Following the key signature is the time signature. The time signature typically consists of two numbers, with one of the most common being "4/4". The top "4" indicates that there are four beats per measure (also called bar). The bottom "4" indicates that each of those beats are quarter notes. Measures divide
Key signature sometimes is this change indicated with a change of key signature; if not, the passage in the second key will not have a matching key signature. The Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 538 by Bach has no key signature, leading it to be called the "Dorian", but it is still in D minor; the Bs that occur in the piece are written with accidentals. Keys which are associated with the same key signature are called relative keys. When musical modes, such as Lydian or Dorian, are written using key signatures, they are called "transposed modes". Exceptions to common-practice-period