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Originally Posted by wcostley
now it's much clearer in my mind that the A-B-C-D-E-F-G rule has to be used in any key independent of the other keys, so I guess I am learning.
Thanks again.
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The way I think of it - from a purely practical point of view - is that if I'm writing a scale out in 'standard notation' on a regular music staff, then it makes sense to use each letter only once.
For historical reasons, the staff has no special place to write the sharps and flats. They have to 'borrow' the line either above or below. So if you already have an A in that spot then it can get a bit messy trying to use it for both A and A#. So you just use the next spot and call it Bb instead. Same sound.
However you see it, it's just useful to use each letter once only. That way the 7 letters can be matched to the 7 notes in a key. The 12 notes (or tones) can still be fitted into only 7 named spaces as long as you're flexible about calling them either a sharp or a flat, depending on which other notes are in the list for that key.
I expect there are other issues, but that works for me.
Cheers,
Chris