Which is worse: Sharps or Flats

[onlyclave]

I can't decide which I hate more, sharps or flats. Coming from a brass instrument background I have no problem with reading flats and I always prefer to see 'b' written instead of '#', except when it comes to F#. That is a glorious note; much easier on the eyes than Gb.

What do you think? Is C# a horrible note?

[Mushroo]

It's not a C#, it's an Ebbb because it's the b3rd of a Cbbmin chord.

[JustOpenYourMind]

For me it's quite the opposite, when I was playing sax, I thought that sharps where way less confusing than flats. It's weird but For example I knew right away what my fingering was for C# but if I saw Db I had to put some thought into it to remember where it was.

The exeption was the Bb I always liked to see it way more than A#

Maybe it was because that on sax to finger a sharp note you have to finger the normal note and add a key, when I saw a flat I had to think of the note before it.

[DocBop]

When I was a guitarist I liked sharp keys because I played in them so much. These days I like like flat keys, no particular reason just seem easier to think and read in. Also playing more Jazz these days I'm playing flat keys more often.

[Rudreax]

I always seem to associate flats to minor keys, and I like to play in minor keys, so I prefer flats over sharps.

[Timbo]

when playing upright #s are definitely better for me. It's way easier to, on the fly, move up a step than down a step and stay intonated.

[pankykapus]

I hated flats and I had problems reading music in 3b, 4b, 5b etc until I started playing in a Big Band. 40% of the numbers are in 5b or 3b and I have to sightread all of them so it helped a lot. Now I'm having troubles with sharps :P
Though it's still the easiest to improvise in D or G.

[HaVIC5]

I think in flats WAY easier than sharps. I really dislike reading in keys of four sharps and higher, it can be real drag. I'll take a Db over C# any day.

[HaVIC5]

Originally Posted by JustOpenYourMind

For me it's quite the opposite, when I was playing sax, I thought that sharps where way less confusing than flats. It's weird but For example I knew right away what my fingering was for C# but if I saw Db I had to put some thought into it to remember where it was.

The exeption was the Bb I always liked to see it way more than A#

Maybe it was because that on sax to finger a sharp note you have to finger the normal note and add a key, when I saw a flat I had to think of the note before it.

Well, I know alto players definitely like sharps better. They kind of have to - concert C is concert A, three sharps. Reading Eb scores is annoying.

[Deacon_Blues]

It depends. For some reason, this is the ultimate chromatic scale for me:

E, F, F#, G, G#, A, Bb, H, C, C#, D, Eb, E





I'm less comfortable reading a Gb than a F#, or D# than a Eb. I don't know why, but I think it has something to do with me being terrible at reading sheet music. I hardly ever do that.

When I write a chord chart, I stick to either flats or sharps though, depending on the key of the song.

[mambo4]

equally comfortable with either, I suppose, but my reading level ain't too high.

One peave of mine tho is when somebody hands me a set of chords for a song that indiscriminately mixes flats and sharps, chromaticism aside. Like when the Ebmaj of the verse becomes an D#maj in the chorus...unnecessary confusion...I generally like to write out my own charts cuz of this.

[pinkzepphish]

in most situations, a flat root beats a sharp root, because it is more often in key. that is unless your playing phrygian

[Valerus]

I always use sharps.

[Cernael]

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

It depends. For some reason, this is the ultimate chromatic scale for me:

E, F, F#, G, G#, A, Bb, H, C, C#, D, Eb, E

I'm pretty sure that's 'cause those are the notes of Bb major through A major, the six least accidentalized keys...

[Rudreax]

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

It depends. For some reason, this is the ultimate chromatic scale for me:

E, F, F#, G, G#, A, Bb, H, C, C#, D, Eb, E





I'm less comfortable reading a Gb than a F#, or D# than a Eb. I don't know why, but I think it has something to do with me being terrible at reading sheet music. I hardly ever do that.

When I write a chord chart, I stick to either flats or sharps though, depending on the key of the song.

I never knew there was an H in the chromatic scale.

[EclecticElectrk]

SHARPS. when i played trumpet, reading a sharp note was very annoying.

[JimmyM]

That's like asking which letter of the alphabet or which number do you like more.

[EclecticElectrk]

HARTY HAR HAR

[EclecticElectrk]

and i shall reply verily, W and 10. what you don't have favorites?

[Rudreax]

I personally like the number 23, but that's just getting off topic.