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 distinguishing between sharps and flats
Author: Maruja 
Date:   2011-03-12 15:59

I have just embarked on learning B Major and D flat Major. This went a lot better when I hit on the fact that instead of concentrating on the sharp/flats I could concentrate on the notes which weren't flattened or sharpened. So far so good. However, having had a session on, say, B Major, I just get very muddled with flattening those notes that I just learned to sharpen. I have tried imagining the note above or below (which sometimes works). Any ideas? I have been working with Improve your Sight Reading Grade 6 (Paul Harris) which I would heartily recommend.

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 Re: distinguishing between sharps and flats
Author: marcia 
Date:   2011-03-12 17:32

I was recently talking to a pianist who said the Db was a much easier key than C#. Go figure! And she did not know why that was so, just that it was.

Sorry, no ideas to help you, just commiseration. [frown]

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 Re: distinguishing between sharps and flats
Author: Ed Palanker 
Date:   2011-03-12 18:15

I've known many people that find it easier to play in sharps than in flats, and in some case visa versa. It's something about the right side of the brain and the left side, or something like that. Personally I don't like either but have to play them when the music calls for it. Some people will say it's easier to play in C# major because everything is sharp but some will say it's easier in Db because you don't have to worry about the F and the C, it's just different for everyone. Try not to think of a flat as the same as a sharp, try to think if each key like a different language so you're not always translating if you know what I mean. In other words don't think of a A# as a Bb in a sharp key, think of it as an A#. Good luck, ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com

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 Re: distinguishing between sharps and flats
Author: kdk 
Date:   2011-03-12 18:28

Ultimately, it's a matter of developing muscle memory so the basic diatonic scale notes come more or less without thought. This is an important aspect of scale practice that has been discussed in other threads here a number of times. But I don't really know an answer to why someone would find C# Major harder or easier than Db Major, except that C# has more symbols in the key signature to count at first glance (are there 6 sharps or 7? - it's easier to see there are 5 flats), but that's a reading issue more than a playing one.

Karl

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