Originally Posted by
(JimD @ Aug. 08 2005, 10:50)
Originally Posted by
Standard notation has some drawbacks, the most notable (to me) being that some notes have a sharp or flat between them and some physcically don't (but can still logically be flatted or sharped - the key of C# has an E# in it) so the notation does not clearly indicate intervals. I wish it did, because it would make transposition on the fly a whole lot easier. But notation has a long history and a huge library - it is probably here to stay.
Quite true, standard notation does have its drawbacks --but a truly precise notation would be too unwieldy. Standard notation evolved over centuries. It does have its logic, though you do have to understand some theory and acoustics to get it.
OK, I'll bite - what does acoustics have to do with it?
I take some issue with theory. If you like C major and A minor, then it certainly makes things simpler. I would even go so far as to say that it would probably be easier in the long run if everything was written in those keys with notes at the top about keys it is more commonly played in. I think standard notation forces far more rote memorization into learning and understanding theory than is necessary.
"First you master your instrument, then you master the music, then you forget about all that ... and just play"
Charlie "Bird" Parker
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