Flats or Sharps?

Jazzin' · #1 06-20-2005, 06:12 PM

What do you prefer? Personally, I'd rather see a Db (an example) than a C#.

JimK · #2 06-20-2005, 07:00 PM

Depends on the key.
I would prefer seeing a C# when in the key of B Major.

FWIW-
I do sorta chuckle whenever the leader of the band I'm in sez "A#"...all the time.

JimmyM · #3 06-20-2005, 07:17 PM

Depends on the key. I don't like one or the other better. For example, I like Db, Ab, Bb, and Eb, and I like F# for key sigs. For accidentals, it all depends on the key.

bigtexashonk · #4 06-20-2005, 08:11 PM

I've always been told that jazz is flats and country is sharps.

Bassist4Life · #5 06-20-2005, 08:47 PM

This is a strange question.

Sharps and flats are functional. It totally depends on the key signature, modulations, harmony... I don't favor one over the other. Therefore, I can't give an answer. Sorry. No hard feelings.

Joe

Jazzin' · #6 06-20-2005, 08:57 PM

But just in general, forget about what key you are in. Just a note by itself.

Matt Till · #7 06-20-2005, 09:01 PM

Sharps sounds more important.

Mr.Phil · #8 06-20-2005, 10:03 PM

I like the look of sharps more...

**embellisher** · #9 06-20-2005, 10:18 PM

Every keyboard or piano player I have ever played with has preferred the flats.

Personally, I have no preference. Either works for me. E=Fb

Bassist4Life · #10 06-20-2005, 11:06 PM

Okay, I gotcha. I need to lighten up a bit here I guess. Sorry about that.

I totally love sharps when I am ascending and flats when I am descending. My vote was for sharps because they make me feel more secure.

Joe

seanm · #11 06-21-2005, 01:28 AM

When I play sax, I am more comfortable with sharp keys, so I picked sharps!

Cerb · #12 06-21-2005, 02:08 AM

Sharps are a lot easier for me to think in.

heavyfunkmachin · #13 06-21-2005, 02:25 AM

and now, for the fretless players with GOOD ear... can you tell the diference between a flat and a sharp?

you know, the sound diference betwen c sharp and d flat.

thats o though one... i know

akuma12 · #14 06-21-2005, 01:05 PM

I'm with seanm. When playing a treble clef instrument, I prefer sharps. With a bass clef instrument, I prefer flats. Dunno why that is, just what I'm used to I guess

Osama_Spears · #15 06-21-2005, 01:14 PM

Depends...if I am ascending a scale or tuning up or raising anything : sharp

But,if I tune to like Db(C#) or in a walking bassline,I am descending gotta go with the flat,baby.

I base it off of the last note played before it. Example: If I play G to G#/Ab ima definately call it a G#,its just a natural thing.

PunkerTrav · #16 06-21-2005, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanm

When I play sax, I am more comfortable with sharp keys, so I picked sharps!

+1. I read an article in a magazine I have about different players' preference. The vast majority of sax players chose sharp, while the vast majority of string players chose flat. I'm sure there's some interesting psychology in there somewhere.

akuma12 · #17 06-21-2005, 01:30 PM

It's probably due to classical string players having very flat personalities, and sax players just being sharp cats in general *winks* I'm just joking to any oversensitive classical players out there *grins*

Bassist4Life · #18 06-21-2005, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkerTrav

+1. I read an article in a magazine I have about different players' preference. The vast majority of sax players chose sharp, while the vast majority of string players chose flat. I'm sure there's some interesting psychology in there somewhere.

Are you sure about this? I'm a public school music teacher and I know that band kids freak out when they see sharps. String kids play in sharp key signatures for a couple of years before playing flats. I guess it has to do with "leading tone" to an open string. D major (C# leading tone), A major (G# leading tone), G major (F# leading tone). Band students usually get started on "Concert Bb". That's my experience with sharps and flats.

Joe

seanm · #19 06-21-2005, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkerTrav

+1. I read an article in a magazine I have about different players' preference. The vast majority of sax players chose sharp, while the vast majority of string players chose flat. I'm sure there's some interesting psychology in there somewhere.

I believe it is because we tend to play in sharp keys and get very comfortable with them. You just get a bit more nervous when a new piece has more than one flat in the key signature.

With bass, I don't care so much since the patterns are the same.

Maverick Blues · #20 06-21-2005, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by embellisher

Personally, I have no preference. Either works for me. E=Fb

I'm playing with some guys who are trying to get a band together, and they're kind enough to let newbie me (only been in the bassment since February) fill in at their practices until they find their actual bassist. It's great for me -- much more valuable to learn locking in with a live drummer than playing against a CD track -- and it helps them out because at least they have some kind of bottom end as they work out their set lists, medleys, etc.

Anyway, I learn this one song in C like it was originally recorded, I get it down pretty solid, and we work on it at a couple of practices. Then at the next practice the singer's schedule gets better and he shows up for the first time since we started working on that song... and declares that it stretches his range and we need to play it in B. Cr*p.

There's some back-and-forth about whether he can manage it in C or if we really need to play it in B, and I don't get a clear read on what key it's gonna be in. So, just as we're about to launch into it, I say, "Okay, we're playing this in C-flat, right?"

There's this second or two of dead silence while the guitarists just sort of stare at each other blankly, then everybody* bursts out laughing. Sez the rhythm guitarist, "Hey, if it makes you more comfortable, go for it!"

I actually did pretty well with it, except that the nut** kept getting in the way.

'rick

*Everybody except the drummer. I guess they don't worry too much about key signature...

**No, not the drummer. I mean the nut on the bass. No, not me, geez guys...

P.S. No ragging on the drummer intended, he's actually a nice guy, very sharp, and keeps tight time. I'm very fortunate to have him to practice against.