All Questions
Tagged with key-signatures theory
76 questions
5
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2
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720
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Why is this A major blues notated in C major?
The sheet music for Charlie Byrd’s Spanish Guitar Blues (produced by Columbia Music Co., © 1961) is in the key of C major, but it seems obvious to me that the piece is in A major.
I understand that ...
- 445
5
votes
7
answers
691
views
What determines the orders of flats or sharps appearing on a key signature? Why is it not just top to bottom? [duplicate]
Backstory:
Beginner Piano player, self teaching, just trying to learn how to interpret key signatures
Problem:
Here I am puzzled:
This key signature details 6 notes to be flats.
The sequence left to ...
- 331
6
votes
3
answers
1k
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Can a key signature express Phrygian mode (not just major or minor)?
Relative modes share the same note.
I was told the key signature could mean either major or minor.
But can it not also mean the other five modes like Phrygian, Locrian, etc.?
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6
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7
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What is the meaning of the affixed paragraph on Sharps?
I am having a doubt with regard to the below portion of a textbook I am studying. I am new to music theory and therefore, the doubt that I have might sound trivial. But, Kindly help.
It says that when ...
- 61
1
vote
0
answers
104
views
How do find the key signature in "Fantasia on Greensleeves" [closed]
Can someone verify if Ralph Vaughan Williams "Fantasia on Greensleeves" is played in F natural minor/melodic minor scale or C minor, if not which key signature?
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6
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5
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977
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accidentals of the treble and bass clef
I don't understand why we have to write the key signature on the bass line?
It's already precise on the treble line, so we already know the tonality of the piece.
What's more, is it possible in this ...
4
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8
answers
4k
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Confused about the natural symbol (♮) and the omnipresence of the C major scale in music theory
Something is confusing me in our use of accidentals in modern music theory, and more particularly about the use of the natural symbol ♮.
It is not always easy to formulate accurately a mess of ...
- 57
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4
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1k
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How to notate a non-standard hexatonic key
I am writing part of a piano piece in a hexatonic "key" containing these notes:
C - D# - E - G - Ab - B
(I say "key" instead of scale because I'm treating it like a key, deriving ...
2
votes
5
answers
359
views
Is Fantaisie Impromptu actually in G# Phrygian?
I’m new to music theory and the definition of key I’ve learned seems to contradict established fact. I’ve been told that the tonic of a piece is the key where the melody comes to rest, where it feels ...
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9
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3
answers
960
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What is this key signature used in Gymnopedie 1 - F major or D major?
I'm learning Gymnopedie no 1 from the Faber-music Piano Anthology but I'm confused about the key signature of B-flat. All of the B-flats within the piece are written as a natural and there's an ...
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3
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2
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210
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Writing Key Signatures for Polytonality/Frequent Key Modulation
I looked through similar questions and didn't really see anything that answered a broader question so I guess I'll ask it.
As I write music, my chord progressions tend to go through a lot of different ...
- 740
9
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4
answers
2k
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Circle of Fifths (Added Sharps and Flats) [duplicate]
I understand that an easy way to determine the 'key' of a piece of music is to either look at the last sharp within the key signature and add a half step (semitone), or look at the second to last flat....
- 313
11
votes
5
answers
2k
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Why practice enharmonic equivalent keys as separate keys
In this video Victor Wooten explains that there are 30 keys that people need to practice in as opposed to 24. I found out that the 6 extra keys are actually redundant in the sense that each one of ...
- 487
4
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1
answer
93
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Is it ok to use irregular key signatures for neutral scales?
So for 24-TET neutral scales is it correct to use irregular key signatures? or do I need to use a minor with accidentals or something?
- 437
19
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8
answers
2k
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"Wrong" key signature for a score in F dorian?
TL;DR I'm a bit confused on which key signature to use for a score in F dorian: 4 flats or 3 flats?
I wrote this arrangement of Mad World by Gary Jules back in 2012 using 3 flats as key signature. ...
- 291
3
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2
answers
2k
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Transposing key signatures - how to do so quickly?
I've been attempting to pick up my music theory after a 1 month hiatus, and I've stumbled across transposing key signatures - is there a quick method of figuring out the new key signature? Because ...
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3
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130
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Keyscales & Melodies
I'm fairly new to learning music theory at a basic level. I understand notes, triads, intervals and how to read sheet music but I am struggling to understand key scales and how and when they apply and ...
- 33
2
votes
1
answer
165
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Why does key-change from C to C♯ sound so exotic than C to D♭?
I downloaded and retuned Night Walk from Rhythm Tengoku from 12edo to 19edo, along with some tweaks (correction of key signatures, and correction of range of the glockenspiel)
The original piece goes ...
- 539
0
votes
2
answers
82
views
Why do many musical pieces transition between relative major and minor scales?
I understand that they have the same notes so they "sound related".
Another factor that might be at play: perhaps it makes the life of the performer easier, not having to adjust back and ...
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13
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4
answers
2k
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Is it possible to have sharp/flat notes in a music piece composed in the key of "A minor"?
When I was reading sheet music of Niccolò Paganini's Caprice No. 24 in A minor, I saw some sharp and flat notes.
This raised some questions for me. Based on my researches, I also found out that the ...
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1
answer
113
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How many marks will I lose for a flat in the wrong place in the key signature in a grade 5 theory exam [closed]
I did the grade 5 theory exam yesterday. Completely forgot where to place the flats in the key signature for a question where I had to write a scale out. For Db major in bass clef, I put the Gb in the ...
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1
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5
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2k
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Which key signature contains C sharp with B natural , E natural and F natural?
I am analyzing a Binary dance in 3/4 time by J.C.F. Fischer for an exam in L9 Harmony Royal Conservatory. The start key is F major. Modulates briefly to B flat major and C major. Then a chord A major ...
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3
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3
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490
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Grade 5 ABRSM Music theory: Intervals in transposition
Does it matter whether the interval is diminished, minor, major or augmented in transposing THE KEY SIGNATURE? of course it is crucial in the transposition of notes but is it important in key ...
- 31
4
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2
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3k
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The key signatures C-flat minor and G-flat minor: do they exist? [duplicate]
Do the key signatures C-flat minor/G-flat minor exist? If yes,what notes are used in them, and they are rarely or frequently used in classical music?
Also: DO these keys exist 9((not theorethical) ...
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3
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Why is F sharp the only sharp Major Diatonic Harmonica offered and why is there no G flat harmonica?
I tune my guitar half step flat to make it easier to sing the songs I love to play. I also play harmonica along with guitar on many songs that feature a harmonica solo (Neil Young's "Heart of Gold" ...
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4
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2k
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Key signatures with Quarter Tones
I know how to write the key signatures for any note within the 12-note chromatic scale. I know this doesn't come up very often, but what are some ways to write out key signatures for passages of music ...
- 12.9k
2
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1
answer
129
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Does Key changes of different intervals have different effects?
Condisering Key Changes :
Does Key changes of different intervals produce different effects on the Audience similar to intervals?
Does Key changes have different quality to them and if so what are ...
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7
answers
6k
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Why is more music written in sharp keys than flat keys?
According to The Most Popular Keys of All Music on Spotify, an analysis of their song library, sharp keys are more common than flat keys.
Why?
- 2,199
14
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10
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How to figure out key from key signature?
I know the major scale formula so can easily work out the signature by building the scale from tonic, but I've never learnt it the other way... How to know the key/scale from the signature of sharps/...
- 10k
12
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6
answers
2k
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Would you write key signatures for non-conventional scales?
For example, the gypsy scale, I-♭II-III-IV-V-♭VI-VII. Would you write a key signature for a scale like that, that didn't start on B♭ like scales are supposed to? Or would you just add the flat every ...
- 1,125
1
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1
answer
838
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How to read the music staff with key signatures included? [duplicate]
I am reading an introduction of music theory recently. From the first few chapters I learn the fundamental idea about notes, time signatures, music staff, treble & bass clef, interval and scale. ...
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6
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10
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Why does the circle of fifths only show some notes that are enharmonically equivalent?
I was wondering why the circle of fifths only has three keys that are enharmonically equivalent at the bottom of it namely, C#/Db, Gb/F#, B/Cb. Why only those three? Can’t the other notes in the ...
user34288
0
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5
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731
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Is A♭ major a closely related key to C♯ major?
I'm trying to list the closely related keys to C♯ major, and here is what I get:
C♯ major, the original key
D♯ minor
(???)
F♯ major
(???)
A♯ minor
x (B♯ diminished is not a key!)
For the points that ...
user53472
5
votes
4
answers
2k
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Shifting between bemols (flats) and diesis (sharps)in the key signature
I am a beginner in music with little knowledge, but like once in a month spend a little time playing with a digital keyboard.
I noticed that if I have some notes of a song which got 4# in the ...
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0
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3
answers
108
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Did I use the correct key signiture for this 12 bars blues? [closed]
QuincyPenolaSheetMusic
Any input would be fine. I was wondering if another key signature would have made it more easy, as there is a couple of double flats.
6
votes
3
answers
329
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Are any keyboard methods or music theory concepts based on keyboard mirror symmetry?
About a year ago I noticed there is a kind of mirror symmetry on the piano keyboard regarding the shape/distance of the black and white keys when starting at C major and then chromatically descending ...
- 59.5k
1
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1
answer
78
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Harmonic/Melodic Minor in Keys? [duplicate]
How does one find the key to a scale like harmonic minor, or is out of key?
5
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1
answer
2k
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Key used by clarinet
I do not understand the key notation for the clarinet in an orchestral score I am looking at.
This is an extract from the Andante of the Ravel concerto in G:
The clarinet has a different key ...
- 1,911
4
votes
3
answers
1k
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How do you know when a key name needs an accidental?
Take the following example from musictheory.net. If we go by the "cheat" rule where you can take the last sharp, then go one half note up, it will tell us that the major key is A.
Next, if we use the ...
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17
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7
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6k
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Which key signature to pick for this chord progression?
I wrote a song, with a simple four-chord progression. The chords are A - G - D - E and back to the A. Now, I am trying to identify the key of the song, and I have run into a problem. I originally ...
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Where do the double accidentals go in "theoretical" key signatures?
Recent questions led me to discussions of theoretical keys, which are defined by Wikipedia as keys with at least one double accidental in the key signature. (Unfortunately, the source of that ...
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0
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2
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293
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In E♭ major, if an E has a flat next to it is it an E♭ or a D? [duplicate]
If you are playing a piece of music in Eb major (3 flats, Bb, Eb, and Ab) and a note was written as Eb is it actually Eb? Or is it D?
2
votes
2
answers
465
views
How to know which key a song is written in with the same key signature?
How to know which key a song is written in with the same key signature ? For example, the C Lydian scale has the same key signature as G major (G Ionian) AND E (natural) minor (E Aeolian) which makes ...
- 1,477
14
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4
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6k
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Why are some instruments listed 'in F' or 'in B'?
I am looking through scores of pieces that I particularly like.
I can't understand (as this is the first time I have come across it) why here, in the manuscript, some instruments are named as ...
- 2,716
1
vote
1
answer
76
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Key analysis of piece with roots in A and later on G
So I have a piece written in C, with very few accidentals. However the bass resides mainly on A. Am I correct in assuming that most probably it means the piece is actually in A minor?
Later on I use ...
- 3,054
13
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5
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8k
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Why are different keys necessary / important? [duplicate]
If all major key songs can be played in C major, then why do people play them in other keys? Assume there is no singer involved and we're just talking about what sounds "good". My understanding is ...
user34288
5
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3
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965
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Memorizing major and minor keys by ascending and descending by whole step - good idea?
i believe i have discovered an easy method for finding major and minor key signatures until memorized. all you have to do is count by whole step. this process may be easier if you sit in front of a ...
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6
answers
7k
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How do I practice playing in all keys?
I've been practicing alot of easy songs (amazing grace, love me tender, small world, you are my sunshine, etc.) in C major. I do this by ear and I've got the melody and the harmony/chords down.
Now I ...
user34288
15
votes
5
answers
1k
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Unconventional key signature: sharps on F & G only?
This is from Bartók's Mikrokosmos, piece number 44.
I must have come across this a long time ago and didn't understand it, so I crossed it off. 4 years down the line and I still don't get it.
What is ...
- 1,153
2
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3
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325
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In difficult keys, is it really best to think in terms of accidentals?
I know that every major and minor scale can be thought of as the notes of a C diatonic with specific sharp and flat modifications. This way of thinking works well for simple keys like G, D, A, F, etc....
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