(Sorry guys, I didn't learn music theory).

I understand that if a song is in a "sharp" key signature (G,D,A,E etc) you should use a sharp #, and if in a flat signature (F, Bb, Eb etc) you should use a flat (b) for "the black notes."

However what is correct when in the key of C?. All sharps, all flats, or a mixture?

My question stems from a recent printout from BIAB2012.5 (key of C) and there is a combination of sharps & flats, sometimes in the same bar. I know this was a BIAB issue some time ago, but I thought it had been fixed.

All help appreciated.

Hi Keith,

Different books will tell you different things. I tend to favour the approach that if the notes are ascending, it's sharps and if the notes are descending, it's flats. Doing it this way often acts to minimise the accidentals and so make reading a little easier.

Regards,
Noel

I learned what Noel said, but also keep in mind the context of the chords being used. So if you, for example have a diminished chord, then you would expect to see flats, since dim chords flat the 3rd and 5th. Augmented chords sharp the 5th, so you would expect to see a sharp. Likewise for minor, where the 3rd is flatted. But generally passing tones in the melody or harmony would use sharps when ascending and flats descending.

I learned exactly what John said.

I was taught that way, too.

But I also take into consideration the context of the note with it's neighbors. If writing a short chromatic run from Bb to C in the key of C or Am, I think it's easier to read A# B C rather than flatting the first B and then putting a natural in front of the other B. Other similar instances occur. Keep in mind this is personal preference.

To me the music chart is a roadmap to the tune, and my objective is to make it easy for the person reading it to sight-read. If doing something unconventional makes it easier to sightread, I'll do it.

Not that it is necessary to be a good sight-reader, but if the music is easy to sightread for those who do, it will be easier for everybody who reads music.

Insights and incites by Notes

Quote:

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My question stems from a recent printout from BIAB2012.5 (key of C) and there is a combination of sharps & flats, sometimes in the same bar. I know this was a BIAB issue some time ago, but I thought it had been fixed.

All help appreciated.

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BB likes to ascribe the sign that tends to go with the entered chord above the notes, so it could be either.

This is actually a good way of thinking for the aspiring improvisational soloist, not having to think of the same note as a flat at one point and a sharp at another.

The oonvention, however, at least in manually written faskecharts and such, has already been described by others above.

--Mac