Key signature question about August (TFMM) – Neil Moore
Found in: Scale & Key Signature
Un Mani, Australia
I really encourage my students to ask questions. Tonight while learning August she wanted to know about flats as accidentals turning up in a # key signature, such as in measure 15. “Why is it not written as a D#?” she said.
Does anyone know the answer to this?
Terri P., Michigan
The short answer is that the song wouldn’t be in the same key if you made it a D#, and that the song is using ‘blues notes’. They are there for effect. They are often used in jazz and blues.
In this case, I believe it’s a harmonic major that has the 6th lowered. In other words, not where the 5th is raised.
Neil Moore
Firstly, I’m often not a fan of technical answers, 1.. because I don’t know all that much, and 2.. because I’ve come across so many varying perspectives/interpretations/opinions on what the “facts” actually are. Regardless, here goes. I see it a little differently. The piece is in the key of G (1 sharp). The naturally occurring C key-chord (scale tone chord) in the key of G is CMaj. However, in measure 15, there is a temporary chord modulation to a Cmin, along with the melody descending through what would typically be the ascending notes of the C melodic minor scale. The Eb is written to preserve the integrity of the temporary modulation, i.e. the chord-of-the-moment, i.e. the C minor.