Quick question about key signature/notes in notation

[progrmr]

I'm starting Ed Friedland's Building Walking Bass Lines book (no tabs - sweet! ) and have a question about key signature and how it impacts the piece.

Mind you I have rudimentary understanding of reading music - almost through book 1 of the Complete Bass Method (another Ed book!).

The first piece in the book for part one is written in Bb. So on the staff you've got the standard F-Clef symbol, a b (flat) symbol on the B line of the staff.

That means that all "B's" in the piece are played flat regardless of octave because the Bb major scale contains no natural B's right?

Also while this piece (12 bar blues) contain's no E's, if there were E's to be used here they would be flat as well since Bb scale has 2 flats (B & E)

Am I right here?

EDIT: NM - I read it wrong, there is only a single flat on the staff, this piece was written in F not Bb

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by progrmr

I'm starting Ed Friedland's Building Walking Bass Lines book (no tabs - sweet! ) and have a question about key signature and how it impacts the piece.

Mind you I have rudimentary understanding of reading music - almost through book 1 of the Complete Bass Method (another Ed book!).

The first piece in the book for part one is written in Bb. So on the staff you've got the standard F-Clef symbol, a b (flat) symbol on the B line of the staff.

That means that all "B's" in the piece are played flat regardless of octave because the Bb major scale contains no natural B's right?

YES

Also while this piece (12 bar blues) contain's no E's, if there were E's to be used here they would be flat as well since Bb scale has 2 flats (B & E)

Am I right here?

YES - but:

[b]EDIT: NM - I read it wrong, there is only a single flat on the staff, this piece was written in F not Bb

PERHAPS - sometimes key and key signature do not correspond TO FACILITATE READING, AVOIDING ACCIDENTALS. THIS IS OFTEN SEEN IN BLUES/JAZZ.

Keep up the work, it's a great book.

[JimmyM]

chris, while i absolutely have seen examples of pieces written in a different key than what they really are for the reason you said, honestly, i consider it sloppy composing. i'd rather have the accidentals and be given the right key, and it avoids confusion imho, ymmv, pdq, stp, m-o-u-s-e.

[Chris K]

You're absolutely right - I never write my own stuff that way. But others do... (and then they go: see it as a dorian -but Jim, please, don't post back anything about modes...)

Ehhhh....... ymmv? pdq? stp? m-o-u-s-e????

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Chris K

You're absolutely right - I never write my own stuff that way. But others do... (and then they go: see it as a dorian -but Jim, please, don't post back anything about modes...)

Ehhhh....... ymmv? pdq? stp? m-o-u-s-e????

don't worry...i hardly ever think about modes. about the only time i do is on here, and then it's just to say, "don't worry about modes...use the chords"