Confused about some notation rules.

[choykaiwen]

I'm doing some transposition. In key of D major (C#, F#), I'm trying to write a Fb note. Should I write Fb directly, or Fbb, to indicate 2 semitones down from the key?

[debussy symbolism]

Greetings.

You should write "Fflat" directly. Writing "f double flat" will indicate that its "f double flat," so will not be what you intend.

[ramseytheii]

Just to let you know, it used to be the tradition that if you used an accidental ona note that was already affected by the key signature, you would have to put a natural in addition to your accidental.  So traditionally, your example would have appeared as a natural sign, then a flat, then the note.  But people don't do that anymore, you may still see it.

Walter Ramsey

[berrt]

What about the e? is it "sharpened" in that measure or could you use it instead?

[counterpoint]

Yes, a Fb in D Major is really strange. What chord does it belong to?

[Bob]

You could write Fb as E to make it easier to read.  Or keep it Fb if you want the performer to understand the function better.

[debussy symbolism]

Well this includes the rules or harmony. Yes, an f flat in D major is rather strange, as usually flats don't appear in keys with sharps, and writing an E is definately easier. However I see nothing wrong with simply writing an F flat . One way I see it is voice leading. Say you have to voices. One already is using an E, so the other voice will need to use an F flat. An F flat is not an E in theory. It is an enharmonic spelling, and is the same note, but in harmony those two notes, F flat and E aren't the same. It just makes composition easier to understand, otherwise it would be confusing to identify what voice is going where.

[ramseytheii]

I'm curious where this F-flat is going.  It could be the Neapolitan of the Neapolitan; or maybe a modulation to A-flat minor.  From D major that would be risque!


Walter Ramsey

[jlh]

Or if it is a part of a French augmented 6th chord... in that case I think it would simply be an E.  If you write an F-flat you would generally be prepping it for yet another downward motion -- perhaps to the root of the Neapolitan?

[quantum]

One trick I use when getting into complex accidentals is to transpose the passage into C major and see if it makes sense in that key. 

F-flat in D major would be equal to E double flat in C major.