Quote:
Originally Posted by Rafn
Robin, I have a question: When a piece/song is composed in a certain mode like locrian or whatnot, does the normal key signature have to be there? Example, if it was in B major, would you have to to have 5 sharps and still naturalize them every time, or would it be the key signature of C?
Thanks.
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Sometimes composers will write out the number of sharps/flats in the mode, i.e. a piece in E Lydian would have a key signature of five sharps (B Major). Sometimes, though, they'll just use the key signature of the parallel major/minor scale, depending on the mode. So a piece in E Lydian, E Ionian, or E Mixolydian would have a key signature with four sharps (E Major) and E Dorian, E Aeolian, and E Phrygian would have a key signature with one sharp (E Minor) and accidentals would just be used regularly for a b7, #4, b2, or natural 6. I've never seen a piece in Locrian with a minor key signature because it technically isn't a minor key due to the b5, but it may very well be out there.