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Sharps or Flats?



 
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Sharps or Flats - which do you prefer?
I would rather play in sharps than in flats.
16%
 16%  [ 7 ]
I would rather play in flats than in sharps.
55%
 55%  [ 24 ]
I don't like either one.
2%
 2%  [ 1 ]
It really doesn't matter - either is OK.
25%
 25%  [ 11 ]
Total Votes : 43

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Dale Proctor
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:38 am    Post subject: Sharps or Flats? Reply with quote

OK, which keys do you prefer - sharps or flats? I mean, when a piece of difficult music is put on your stand, do you squirm more if it's in 5 sharps or 5 flats? Just wondering how others felt...for some reason, I'd rather see flats.
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BenH
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would definitely rather see F# major than Gb major, and I think I'd prefer C# major to Db major, oddly enough, so I'll go for sharps.

Having said that, I don't like seeing that many of either.
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Bill Dishman
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:33 am    Post subject: Flats/Sharps Reply with quote

It makes no difference to me. Feeling comfortable in all keys is the goal. I find that being proficient in multiple transpositions makes things even easier when dealing with various keys that come up in sight reading.

However.... there is a "familiarity/conditioning element that comes into play. In a very basic example (my middle school band students) some instrumentalists feel more comfortable in one (flats) or the other (sharps) due to their experience. In elementary and middle school music, the low brass come across flats much more so than sharps. Flutes, oboes and mallet percussion are also more comfortable in flat keys signatures. Alto and Bari saxes conversely are much more exposed to sharp key signatures and thus feel more comfortable with this.

Generally trumpets/clarinets fit in the middle ground (but not too many of each) with French horns also near the middle ground but seem to do better with sharps overall. To me, this is typical but not desirable. I work all keys in class to build proficiency and a feeling of "ownership" when various key signatures come up.

Another benefit of being comfortable in all keys is that even if a young student is struggling with multiple flats/sharps while they are learning, they feel much more proficient with the lesser number of flats/sharps.

My private studio students work all keys over time. I even start 1st and 2nd year students transposing basic material. They pick it up easily and quickly. I even start the chromatic scale with beginners right off the bat so there is nothing "hard" or "difficult" about them. After learning the typical "C" (Bb concert) scale, I do B (A concert) and C# (B concert) very quickly. Since this is just something else to learn, there is no "phobia" about it. Like the NIKE commercial. "Just Do It!"

Bill Dishman
Gainesville, Florida
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shofarguy
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 6:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

BenH wrote:
I would definitely rather see F# major than Gb major, and I think I'd prefer C# major to Db major, oddly enough, so I'll go for sharps.

Having said that, I don't like seeing that many of either.


Did I write that post?? I could have written that post.


Favorite Major Keys in Order:
F
Bb
C
D
G

Hardest Major Keys in Order:
Db
C#
F#
A
Ab

Of course there are other keys, but these are the standouts for me. Funny how I don't really like C Major that much. And of course these are written keys for trumpet, not concert keys

Brian
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Cheng
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Because I have spent most of my playing life in concert bands, I am more used to Flat keys. But over the last couple of years, I have spent a significant amount of time learning to be confortable in all keys.

I still have some finger dexterity issues but that is also coming along. Being flexible also assists in transposition.
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Juergen
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Flats seem nicer to read; easier maybe. I don't know but my favorite key is Ab Major.
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jazz_trpt
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 10:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd rather play in F than in E sharp.
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veery715
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jazz_trpt wrote:
I'd rather play in F than in E sharp.
That's my fave response of the year!
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VetPsychWars
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I dislike more than three of either. Hated playing "The Music Man"!

Though, truly, once you learn it, the music is just a reminder. Your fingers know where to go.

Tom
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Terron
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 2:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I perfer Db over C# and prefer F# over Gb, I guess its just what you are used to. But I can play in all keys pretty well. That comes from doing shows where it isn't uncommon to play in C#maj with f and c double sharps (concert C# then add 2 sharps to trumpet? Why not make it easier for us and write trumpet parts in Eb?) Strangely I have the bigest trouble with Amaj, The d natural always gets me
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GrahamB
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It REALLY doesn't make any difference whatsoever for me. For me, there's no difference between C# Major or Db Major, a key's a key.
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