HAVING A PROBLEM WITH Cb, E#....

[unikqe]

CAN YALL PLS EXPLAIN D THEORY BEHIND THE Cb, E#, Fb & B#. I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY WE CALL KEY B Cb & F E# SOMETIMES?

[T-Block]

To flat (b) a note means to lower it 1/2 step. So, Cb means the note C lowered 1/2 step. To sharp (#) a note meas to raise it 1/2 step. So, E# means the note E raised 1/2 step. We have those keys because they are a part of major scales and because those notes can have scales built on them.

For example, the C# major scale:

C#,  D#,  E#,  F#,  G#,  A#,  B#

Now, if you recall the formula for the major scale, it's WS  WS  HS  WS  WS  WS  HS. Also, each letter of the alphabet can only be used once. If you were to call E# an F, it would violate those rules because then you would have an F and an F# in the same key. That is not allowed, lol.


Another example, the Cb major scale:

Cb,  Db,  Eb,  Fb,  Gb,  Ab,  Bb

If you follow the major scale formula and the rules for the major scale, you see that this is indeed a legit major scale. There is also sheet music written in this key.


Is that good enough?

[olimpus0714]

Good evening T-Block! Can you post the chords to Praise Him by Lucinda Moore? I can figure out the verse but I am kind of lost in the chorus and the vamp. I will greatly appreciate it. I think it's on Cb. Thanks

[unikqe]

THANKS T BLOCK. ARE THERE OTHER RULES TO FORMING THOSE SCALES ASIDE USING SAME NAME TWICE? AND DO YOU MEAN IF I WRITE THE C# MAJOR SCALE SINCE IT'S A SHARP, EVERY OTHER NOTE MUST ALSO BE SHARPED E.G: IN YOUR EXAMPLE C#,D#,E#,F#,G#,A#,B# COULDN'T IT ALSO BE: C#,Eb,F,Gb,A#,Bb,C?? THANKS

[csedwards2]

THANKS T BLOCK. ARE THERE OTHER RULES TO FORMING THOSE SCALES ASIDE USING SAME NAME TWICE? AND DO YOU MEAN IF I WRITE THE C# MAJOR SCALE SINCE IT'S A SHARP, EVERY OTHER NOTE MUST ALSO BE SHARPED E.G: IN YOUR EXAMPLE C#,D#,E#,F#,G#,A#,B# COULDN'T IT ALSO BE: C#,Eb,F,Gb,A#,Bb,C?? THANKS

In your example, you have the same note twice. A# is the same as Bb. Might have just been a mistake.

Once you fix that error, it really wouldnt matter what you called it as long you got it right playing. However, people who follow the rules of theory will look at you funny, because you'll be likely making mistakes in your explanation, playing with others.

On a personal note, I cant stand a video where some is explaining the number system, and they explain the number system of a scale using the wrong names. Choose the simpler key for you to comprehend and stick with that. For example, I never play in C#, but I always play in Db. To me, its easier to figure out while playing since there are two notes that arent flatted (F, C). And I certainly dont play in Cb, I play in B (B, E arent sharped)

Learning the notes as they are in the scale are the foundation which theory is built on. That foundation is needed to build upon with advanced changes, tritones, substitutions, reharmonizations, improvisation, etc. If you can help it; learn the scales.

[gtrdave]

THANKS T BLOCK. ARE THERE OTHER RULES TO FORMING THOSE SCALES ASIDE USING SAME NAME TWICE? AND DO YOU MEAN IF I WRITE THE C# MAJOR SCALE SINCE IT'S A SHARP, EVERY OTHER NOTE MUST ALSO BE SHARPED E.G: IN YOUR EXAMPLE C#,D#,E#,F#,G#,A#,B# COULDN'T IT ALSO BE: C#,Eb,F,Gb,A#,Bb,C?? THANKS

No, you would never mix sharps and flats in a key. You either stick to sharps or stick to flats.
And which to use, sharps of flats, has a bit of theory behind it that I don't fully understand, but it comes down to whether your key is from the circle of fourths (descending fifths = flat use) or the circle of fifths (ascending fifths = sharp use).

[T-Block]

One other thing you might wanna note is although certain notes like C#/Db and E#/F are the same pitch and location, they don't have the same function within a particular chord or a particular key. For musicians who understand some music theory (and that includes most performers, not just composers and music teachers), calling a note "E sharp" gives important and useful information about how that note functions in the chord and in the progression of the harmony.

On a personal note, I cant stand a video where some is explaining the number system, and they explain the number system of a scale using the wrong names.

I can't even begin to explain how much I loathe people using sharps and flats in the same major scale. I really don't get how hard it is to learn the scales the right way. I had to work to remember them all, but figuring them all out was a piece of cake. Just follow the formula and you can't go wrong.

[olimpus0714]

Good evening T-Block! Can you post the chords to Praise Him by Lucinda Moore? I can figure out the verse but I am kind of lost in the chorus and the vamp. I seriously need your help figuring out the chords to the chorus. I kind of here that they are going down and fourths but I can't figure out the voicing of the piano. I'll greatly appreciate it. I think it's on Cb. Thanks

[Mysteryman]

One other thing you might wanna note is although certain notes like C#/Db and E#/F are the same pitch and location, they don't have the same function within a particular chord or a particular key. For musicians who understand some music theory (and that includes most performers, not just composers and music teachers), calling a note "E sharp" gives important and useful information about how that note functions in the chord and in the progression of the harmony.


I can't even begin to explain how much I loathe people using sharps and flats in the same major scale. I really don't get how hard it is to learn the scales the right way. I had to work to remember them all, but figuring them all out was a piece of cake. Just follow the formula and you can't go wrong.

I try to call the notes by their right names but I may have mixed a few. You do sometimes see sharps and flat notes mixed in sheet music when a note is out of the key.

[berbie]

you mean there are actually sharp notes.  Next you're gonna say there are sharp keys. 

[csedwards2]

I try to call the notes by their right names but I may have mixed a few. You do sometimes see sharps and flat notes mixed in sheet music when a note is out of the key.

and thats one of the main points. If musicians never learn the right notes via the scale/key; they'll never know when something is not in the key.