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Which minor scales are easier? Flat or sharp?

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What minor scales do you find easier? Sharp or flat?

Sharp: 8 (61.5%)
Flat: 5 (38.5%)

Total Members Voted: 13

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Topic: Which minor scales are easier? Flat or sharp? (Read 2536 times)

Bob

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Which minor scales are easier? Flat or sharp?

on: December 09, 2009, 04:04:17 AM

I'm thinking I lean slightly toward sharp being more difficult, more prickly. I think it's because of the double sharps on g#, d#, and a#.

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nanabush

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Re: Which minor scales are easier? Flat or sharp?

Reply #1 on: December 10, 2009, 01:52:41 PM

Neither in specific, but when certain of these keys come up in music, there are a few I hate.

D# minor is my all time least favorite, because it is quite uncommon, yet common enough that you see it every once in a while, and it's just a pain. Also, something about F minor - the fingering in that scale doesn't appeal to me in the slightest (right hand).

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Interested in discussing:

-Prokofiev Toccata
-Scriabin Sonata 2

jlh

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Posts: 2352

Re: Which minor scales are easier? Flat or sharp?

Reply #2 on: January 23, 2010, 06:45:10 AM

Which minor scales are we talking about here? Natural? Harmonic? Melodic?

Best,
Josh

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Bob

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Posts: 16368

Re: Which minor scales are easier? Flat or sharp?

Reply #3 on: January 23, 2010, 06:14:46 PM

All forms. Just in general, that minor key.

Why are people saying sharp is easier? You've got fxdim, cxdim, gxdim -- double sharp dims!

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nanabush

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Re: Which minor scales are easier? Flat or sharp?

Reply #4 on: January 24, 2010, 06:43:49 AM

I'd like to change what I said earlier:
I like flat key signatures better. Everything from the really pointy looking sharps coming up all over the place compared to the curvy figure of the flat

, to the fingerings in the keys that have TONS of flats. Flats look more pleasing to my eyes when I see a lot of them on paper. I'm really starting to dislike sharps because I'm in the middle of learning the Prokofiev 3rd sonata (my first Prokofiev piece I'm actually learning for an exam), and some parts would look so much neater with either a key signature, or some flats

aaahhhh I'm picky, but it is an awesome piece.

I see Gb major more often than F# major, so I'm just more comfortable with it. Same with Eb minor and D# minor.

It's obviously not a huge issue; I don't refuse pieces with 6 sharps, but I remember the Ravel Sonatine 3rd movement really tough in some spots to read (including the amount of accidentals and modulations AFTER a pile of sharps in a key signature).

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Interested in discussing:

-Prokofiev Toccata
-Scriabin Sonata 2

pianoplayjl

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Re: Which minor scales are easier? Flat or sharp?

Reply #5 on: November 03, 2011, 02:49:18 AM

they are both just as easy. For me, the more sharps/flats the easier.

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jlh

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Re: Which minor scales are easier? Flat or sharp?

Reply #6 on: July 16, 2012, 11:09:06 AM

Then I would say harmonic... just because it's fun.

Best,
Josh

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pianoman53

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Posts: 1179

Re: Which minor scales are easier? Flat or sharp?

Reply #7 on: July 16, 2012, 01:12:19 PM

So play E-flat instead of D sharp

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danielekstrom

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Posts: 46

Re: Which minor scales are easier? Flat or sharp?

Reply #8 on: July 18, 2012, 01:57:33 AM

I can't answer that. It depends on the context.

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j_menz

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Posts: 10148

Re: Which minor scales are easier? Flat or sharp?

Reply #9 on: July 18, 2012, 04:26:48 AM

Jogging, bushwalking, pole-vaulting, music: some things are just easier in flats.

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What minor scales do you find easier? Sharp or flat?

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Topic: Which minor scales are easier? Flat or sharp? (Read 2536 times)

Piano Street Magazine:The Piano Taking Center Stage at the 2025 Verbier Festival

Piano Street Magazine:
Italian Focus at Cremona Musica Piano Experience

Piano Street Magazine:
The Piano Taking Center Stage at the 2025 Verbier Festival