Writing Key Signatures

That's like the same as D minor. =\

Originally Posted by Mitchell

Well, I've only done it once, but the feeling of being such a rebel was good.
It was for strings, I'd never do it for transposing instruments though.

It'd still confuse them...If you see a Gb, we're trained to assume a Db and so on....it's just, mean!

Not as mean as his unresolved tritones.

I use Key Signatures....Writing all those accidentals would become tedious, espicially in something like F# or Db...

~Kal

OH COME ON!! Am I seriously the only one who didn't use key signatures?!!

You mean you never use key signatures, even if it's in a crazy key like C# or Fb?

~Kal

Originally Posted by Keerakh Kal

You mean you never use key signatures, even if it's in a crazy key like C# or Fb?

I'd never be in a key like that for more than a few measures...

But, to be fair...if I was going to be using an odd key for an extended period of time, I would use a key signature.

Well, I haven't developed a a hard-and-fast work flow yet, but at the moment I am writing a piece not using key signatures, and I like it. So I will put my vote down for not using them, although that is subject to change.

Colin Thomson

I don't use them while writing, but if the piece turns out to be in a key when I'm finished (which is often the case) I add it when I notate a neat score.

Originally Posted by robinjessome

I'd never be in a key like that for more than a few measures...

But, to be fair...if I was going to be using an odd key for an extended period of time, I would use a key signature.

Okay, Fb is kinda poinless, it is notated much more easily as E major, especially when transposing instruments are concerned (so why use it at all?), but C#? I find Db (its enharmonic) and Gb to be my favorite keys, why are so many people afraid of using a key that happens to need a few sharps or flats?

I personally like the idea of mean-tone temperament, where every key has it's own color, but with the equal temperament system everything unfortunately sounds the same. BUT, writing in different keys even in eT can bring out different tone colors from wind instruments (because of their acoustical nature), which is why I choose keys carefully.

Plus, I write with a key signature because it keeps me focused When I'm thinking I'm in a certain key I can picture all the different harmonic relationships. Without a key signature, I tend to think that the piece has no harmonic structure, and its harder to picture harmonic relationships when you have sharps and flats all over the place billowing like red flags saying "Hey, we're usually not in the same key, we're supposed to stick out!"