Re: More questions on scales

Hans and David, you both refer to

FCGDAEB

I don't really understand this, or the significance of the circle of
fifths, can you please explain it with reference to this other webpage
that I found? I don't understand how to read the second column of the
table referring to key signatures.

http://jmdl.com/howard/music/keys_scales.html


> > Why does the minor scale have flattened 3rd, 6th and 7th notes?
>
> It has a minor 3rd instead of a major 3rd. =A0This is (principally) what
g=
ives
> it its minor character.
>
> The 6th and 7th are fluid in a minor key; they are "flattened" in the
> "natural minor" scale. =A0=A0Standard key signatures were designed for
the=

> major mode; the minor mode sits fairly uneasily with them because of the
> different 6ths and 7ths. =A0 So when you talk about "flattened 6ths and
7t=
hs",
> you are taking as a reference point an arbitrary major scale. =A0 This
is
> commonly done, but not really a good idea because minor keys are in no
sen=
se
> newer or less im****tant than major keys. =A0 =A0You may as well ask why
ma=
jor
> keys have sharpened 3rd 6th and 7th notes - it would be just as valid.

This is new to me, but I understand it, you have made a good point.

Thank you both
Dylan