Beginner Is is worthwhile memorizing both F#/C# and Gb/Db ?

[AndyB]

I prefer thinking F#/C# instead of the other enharmonics which require me to think about double-flats sometimes.

I guess what I'm asking is if there is any musical reason to even learn to think in the keys Gb and Db?

Thanks!

 

[Linky Lee]

Classically speaking yes.

Practically speaking, unless you are going to play in a band or jam session probably not.

Sometimes I think it can be easier to think in the b enharmonic versions depending upon the context (they also have less alterations from the 'pure' C major if you think of scales in that way).

Recently I've been shedding arpeggios and I've come unstuck with these so it would of been good for me if I had of learnt the enharmonic versions from the beginning.

I'm sitting on the fence... it's a good view.

 

[daveysaxboy]

Learn it now and it's done,2nd nature is the key word here.Dont miss thing's out and your on the ball when some thing like this creep's up.Doing scale's and theory can get boring but there the rock foundation in the end.

 

[kevgermany]

Learn it now and it's done,2nd nature is the key word here.Dont miss thing's out and your on the ball when some thing like this creep's up.Doing scale's and theory can get boring but there the rock foundation in the end.

I tend to agree with this. Was playing something with an A# in it last night. Took me ages to remember that it was the same key as Bb. Dumb, I know, but it's exactly what davey is saying.

 

[daveysaxboy]

Yes it's why leave thing's out when your learning.It's crawl,walk and then you can run riot.Ye ha.

 

[half diminished]

I think you'll be storing up problems later if you don't. You should be thinking in either sharps or flats and not mixing the two.

For example in C# major you should be thinking: C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B# (not C#, Eb, F, F#, G#, Bb, C) and Db major: Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C.

Also, if you play a piece of music in the key of Db it will show notes on D, E, F, G, A, B and C with you to play the appropriate flats. So you need to know/play Db, Gb and Ab rather than think/play C#, F and G#.

Hope this makes sense

 

[kevgermany]

I think you'll be storing up problems later if you don't. You should be thinking in either sharps or flats and not mixing the two.

For example in C# major you should be thinking: C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B# (not C#, Eb, F, F#, G#, Bb, C) and Db major: Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C.

Also, if you play a piece of music in the key of Db it will show notes on D, E, F, G, A, B and C with you to play the appropriate flats. So you need to know/play Db, Gb and Ab rather than think/play C#, F and G#.

Hope this makes sense

I create multiple names for the same thing all the time at work, what with Alises and symlinks. And it seems perfectly natural and logical. Dunno why I find it so difficult in music.

 

[AndyB]

For example in C# major you should be thinking: C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B# (not C#, Eb, F, F#, G#, Bb, C) and Db major: Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C.

Actually, I'm not.

I'm thinking C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B# instead of Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C because once you get out of major land you have:

Dorian : Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb
Minor : Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bbb, Cb

and for Gb

Dorian:Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb
Minor :Gb Ab Bbb Cb Db Ebb Fb

If you obey the law of not naming notes with enharmonics outside the key sig, then it really gets messy with double-flats. Those give me a lot of trouble.

 

[Linky Lee]

Then cheat and call it A instead of Bbb 😛 - probably not a good idea though.

Also a point to think about is once you've learnt a scale you don't think about the tone names, your fingers do the remembering along with your ears.
Struggle through till you've got it, then it won't matter after that!

Though I agree, if I see a bb or x in a piece of music I'd prefer to put a rest there!

 

[half diminished]

If you obey the law of not naming notes with enharmonics outside the key sig, then it really gets messy with double-flats. Those give me a lot of trouble.

I never said it was easy!