What key signature is this?

Question

I'm "trying" to compose a piece for my Music class (it's an assignment) but I can't figure out what key signature to put in. I've got a B-flat, E-flat and C-sharp as regulars in my piece. As of now, my manuscript has a G-minor key signature and has C-sharp accidentals. I know the modern G-minor scale has the accidentals that I've got, but the G-minor key signature doesn't have a C-sharp in it.

How do you think I should write my key signature?

Answer 1

Reverie is right. The scale of G harmonic minor definitely has the F# in it. It isn't, however, in the actual key signature. All minor key signatures are written on the staff as if in natural minor mode, in this case with two flats, Bb and Eb.



The F# is the leading tone, heading back to the Tonic, G. Usually the raised leading tone is used when there is movement going up the scale towards the tonic. When descending, one can use either the raised leading tone, F#, or the lowered 7th degree, F natural. Either one works fine.



So unfortunately, you are just have to make all F#s with the accidental. No way around that one.



Good luck.

VT

Answer 2

It does sound like g minor, but without seeing the piece and knowing how you're working the harmony, it's a little trickier to narrow the actual key down.



It could be a mode of some kind other than the typical Aeolian/Ionian/Dorian etc scheme.



For example, there are "Middle Eastern" modes which use both sharps and flats in the same key signature. One mode, called hejaz (lotsa different spellings I'm afraid though), is like a Harmonic Minor which starts on the fifth scale degree. D Eb F# G A Bb C D...The differences are that it won't resolve to G, and that typically the resolutions occur from the sub-tonic (C minor) to the tonic (D major).

Answer 3

So you have B-flats, E-flats, and F-Sharps in your piece? That would exactly fit the key of G minor. The G minor key signature has a B- and E-flat and there is an F-Sharp accidental. That's what I would use.

Answer 4

As human beings have mentioned the foremost signature at teh start up of the stave marks out which notes ought to frequently be 'sharps' or 'apartments' for something of the piece. you have given the order for apartments. The order for sharps is the opposite (FCGDAEB or "Father Charles is going Down And Ends conflict"). The order helps you to assert quite a few sharps/apartments and additionally communicate which sharps/apartments on the comparable time. the foremost signature won't in any respect combination sharps and apartments and could constantly use a predictable order. So somewhat with 2 sharps has an F sharp and C sharp. somewhat with 3 sharps has an F, C, and G sharp. somewhat wth one flat could be B flat, while somewhat with 5 apartments might have B, E, A, D, G flat. It gets greater complicated by way of fact there's a significant and minor key for each key signature (those are defined as appropriate keys). case in point, C significant and A minor the two have not got any sharps or apartments. Eflat significant and C minor the two start up off with 3 apartments. (be conscious: minor keys even have 'raised' notes on the seventh and now and lower back 6th notes of the dimensions that are no longer placed into the foremost signature.) there's a 'circle of 5ths'. in case you start up on C significant (no sharps) and upload a suited 5th do G significant, you upload one sharp to the foremost signature. From G you circulate to D significant (2 sharps), to a significant (3 sharps), E Maj (4 sharps), B Maj (5 sharps), F# Maj (6 sharps), C# significant (7 sharps). in case you circulate any greater then you definately start up complicated each little thing with 'double sharps', so do no longer. C# significant makes use of the comparable notes as Dflat significant which has 5 apartments interior the foremost signature. so which you would be able to proceed the circle of fifths via lowering the type of apartments via one. Dflat Maj (5flats), Aflat Maj (4 apartments), E flat Maj (3 apartments), B flat Maj (2 apartments), F Maj (a million flat), C maj (0 apartments) and we are lower back the place we began. How we've been given the regulations and how we've been given the be conscious names are form of the comparable question. Bach's 40 8 preludes and fugues (called 'the nicely tempered clavier') have been 2 preludes+fugues for each significant and minor key for the organ. In a fashion, they marketed the answer to the tuning of the notes on a keyboard interior the trend of white and black notes we nevertheless use. It grow to be a tribulation and mistake answer that took hundreds of years to suited. besides, wish that enables.

Answer 5

As you have Bb and Eb with a G minor thrown in frequently your key signature ought to be Bb.



Your reoccurring C# (Db) suggests a temporary mood change (not key change) from Bb to Bbm. The two notes of Bb and Eb constitutes the major key of Bb and the minor key of G minor.



You might go either way except for the interrupting C# (Db) you insert.



Added note: With your change from Db to Gb as the melodic shift, I'd recommend using a Gb major as a dramatic shift, but it can sound awkward going directly to Eb. Instead, try a Cm, an F major, and back to Bb as a progressive chord run.

Answer 6

I agree with guitarpick...why did you write it as a C#? It makes a lot more sense to call it a Db, since you're working with flats. It also depends a lot more on how you're using the notes melodically and harmonically. If the melody is centered around E flat, it should probably be in E flat. Don't try to make it in some crazy key if it's not the same key that you've established your tonic in. Good luck with your assignment!