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Scales name convention

14

Suppose I take the whole step half step pattern from C major scale. Why can't I just impose this pattern to make C# major, D major, D# major, E major, F major ... this way? How to determine if its okey to write D# major or I'm allowed to write Eb major? what are the conventions behind that?

2 Answers

4

Keys with more than 7 sharps or 7 flats in key signature are avoided. For example, D# major would require two double sharps, i.e., (f# c#) g# d# a# e# b# fx cx. It would be quite inconvenient to read. In turn, Eb major has just 3 flats: bb eb ab.

3

Not too many reasons to write in a nonexistent key of D# actually, unless you are just having an exercise of it for learning purposes. Eb is one of those keys with only one spelling.


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Scales name convention

14

Suppose I take the whole step half step pattern from C major scale. Why can't I just impose this pattern to make C# major, D major, D# major, E major, F major ... this way? How to determine if its okey to write D# major or I'm allowed to write Eb major? what are the conventions behind that?


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9

Keys with more than 7 sharps or 7 flats in key signature are avoided. For example, D# major would require two double sharps, i.e., (f# c#) g# d# a# e# b# fx cx. It would be quite inconvenient to read. In turn, Eb major has just 3 flats: bb eb ab.

edit

Keys with more than six sharps or flats are avoided. You can find them, but there is a strong preference for B major over C flat major and for D flat major over C sharp major. - phoog Mar 6 at 23:23

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