Circle of fifths problem.

[babybatter]

Why is Gb listed as having 6 sharps or flats?

 

Gb's ionian mode is: Gb Ab Bb B Db Eb F

 

I count 5.

 

[thamiam]

Remember, each letter can only appear once in a scale.

The Gb scale is not:
Gb Ab Bb B Db Eb F

it is:
Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F

Cb is an enharmonic spelling for B, but that is why enharmonic notes are not exactly the same, it is important that they be notated correctly.

[WattsUrizen]

Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb.

[babybatter]

Ah!

Those tricky bastids.

Thanks!

[thamiam]

Here's a noodle stretcher...

Not only is there a C major scale
C D E F G A B

There is also a B# scale
B# Cx Dx E# Fx Gx Ax
(x = double sharp)

Now these sound exactly the same, but B# major scale is infinitely more complicated, and therefore preferred 2-1 by theory snobs everywhere!

[WattsUrizen]

Keys involving double sharps and flats are rarely used, simply for the notational hassles.

For example, in the 'Cavatina' movement of Beethoven's Op. 130 string quartet, the key changes from Db to Db-, but it is notated as C#-.

[thamiam]

Originally posted by Anomandaris Keys involving double sharps and flats are rarely used, simply for the notational hassles. For example, in the 'Cavatina' movement of Beethoven's Op. 130 string quartet, the key changes from Db to Db-, but it is notated as C#-.

 

 

And once you get into popular 20th century music, double flats and double sharps have been pretty much abandoned. Most jazz and pop charts will just put the simplest enharmonic equivalent in.

 

So you might see a Gb scale run notated with only 5 flats.

 

Still, it's a good thing to know, if only because it keeps all the rules of theory consistent.

[WattsUrizen]

Most Classical music is notated rather discriminantly to emphasise harmonic/melodic relations. Sometimes this is due to the editor, sometimes from the composers hand.