QWERTZ

The QWERTZ key signature.

QWERTZ is a key signature used in conjunction with the Q clef, invented by Mozart in the mid-1800s. Because authentic Austrian pianos cannot play the Y note, the original purpose of QWERTZ was to help Austrian pianists play pieces written to accommodate jazz singers who specialize in the 26-note Q range.

History

In the year 1843, Mozart was composing Symphony No. 69 in QWERTY Major in a smoke-filled Viennese tavern. When he began to perform it, he suddenly realized that the piano he was playing on had the Y key in a hard-to-reach spot, causing his left pinky finger to fracture in several places. Thinking quickly, he substituted all the Y notes with Z and poured Crazy-Glue™ all over the Y key, creating the QWERTZ key signature. Since then, it has been the default key signature in most Chinese countries like Austria, Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Connecticut.

Comparison to QWERTY

QWERTZ is identical to QWERTY, except the Y and Z notes are switched with each other, creating a more divine sound.

Notable Pieces in QWERTZ

• Mozart's Symphony No. 69
• Despacito 2
• We Are Number One
• John Cena's Theme
• My Heart Will Go On