Hi Bob,

From a classical sense, the key signature for C minor exists and it has the three flats of Bb, Eb and Ab as you point out. C minor is often referred to as the relative minor of Eb major (or, conversely, Eb major is the relative major of C minor). If someone said to me that a piece of music was in F minor, the four flats of Bb, Eb, Ab and Db springs to mind.

I personally have problems with modes. If someone shouted out "this is in F Mixolydian", I'd have no idea and I'd have to reason my way through it. I'd start by thinking, G Mixolydian is all whites notes so it's relative to C major and has the same key signature. Since G down to C is a perfect 5th, I'd ask myself, "What's a perfect 5th down from F?" The answer "Bb" tells me that F Mixolydian must have two flats, Bb and Eb, in its key signature.

Ain't music fun!

Regards,
Noel


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