Scale Adjacency, Sharps and Flats

15 views Mar 26, 2023

The almost uniform property of the major scale that we discussed in our last video has an important consequence which is responsible for the current staff notation system of using sharps and flats to create key signatures for the 12 major keys. Here we look at this from a mathematical point of view, using 12 tone chromatic scale notation. The circle of fifths or fourths, which is better described as the circle of 7 steps or 5 steps, naturally makes an appearance. And there is an interesting connection with the geometry of the clockface. This video anticipates a wider ranging discussion about alternative ways of notating music.