Notating Harmonic Minor

[kesslari]

I'm sure there's a simple answer - how do you notate the key signature for something in Harmonic Minor?
For example, D Harmonic Minor has D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C#, D.
How do you notate that in terms of key signature?

[Andrew Jones]

I'd put it the key sig of one flat.



Aj

[nothumb]

usually you use a standard minor key signature (so one flat for D minor) and just put a sharp on the individual notes if need be. at least that's how it is in most western classical music. harmonic minor also means different things depending on the era and context; sometimes it implies a raised 6th as well, sometimes the raised 6th and 7th are only used in resolving back to the one chord and regular minor 6ths and 7ths might be found in other chords, etc. so the simplest thing to do is spell it like a regular minor key.

[Otso]

Originally Posted by nothumb

usually you use a standard minor key signature (so one flat for D minor) and just put a sharp on the individual notes if need be. at least that's how it is in most western classical music. harmonic minor also means different things depending on the era and context; sometimes it implies a raised 6th as well, sometimes the raised 6th and 7th are only used in resolving back to the one chord and regular minor 6ths and 7ths might be found in other chords, etc. so the simplest thing to do is spell it like a regular minor key.

The raised 6th with the raised 7th make it the melodic minor.

Originally Posted by Me in another topic

Remember, that in classical (as in the whole of it, not just the Haydn & Mozart bunch) theory, there really isn't a minor scale, or three different minor scales. Minor is a selection of tones, the natural, harmonic and melodic combined. In music, it's very rare for just one of the scales to be used, they're all most often used in combination.

So you use the key signature of the so-called "natural" (which has been used the least by the composers whose music has formed most of the basis for classical music theory) minor, and every time you need to alter the 6th or 7th, you use sharps/flats. Basically you are using just one minor all the time, to simplify, the raised 7th functions as a leading tone to the tonic and the raised sixth is used melodically in order to avoid augmented seconds.

[kesslari]

Got it. I wasn't sure if it was "kosher" to use sharps in a key that had flats...
Makes sense, and is certainly the simple solution.
Thanks!

[HaVIC5]

Originally Posted by Otso

The raised 6th with the raised 7th make it the melodic minor.




So you use the key signature of the so-called "natural" (which has been used the least by the composers whose music has formed most of the basis for classical music theory) minor, and every time you need to alter the 6th or 7th, you use sharps/flats. Basically you are using just one minor all the time, to simplify, the raised 7th functions as a leading tone to the tonic and the raised sixth is used melodically in order to avoid augmented seconds.

Quoted for accurate music theory, something often sorely lacking.