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Why D# major doesn’t really exist, it has to be Eb

Home › Forums › Music Theory › Why D# major doesn’t really exist, it has to be Eb

  • This topic has 3 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 12 months ago by charjo.
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    • April 5, 2020 at 7:14 am #167956
      KevinE
      Participant

        From https://www.basicmusictheory.com/d-sharp-major-key-signature

        Warning: The D-sharp key is a theoretical major scale key.
        This means:
        > Its key signature would contain either double-sharps or double flats.
        > It is rarely used in practice, because it is too complex to use.
        > It is not on the Circle of fifths diagram, which contains the most commonly used keys.
        > There is always an identical major scale that you can use in its place, which is on the Circle of 5ths.
        > The Eb major scale sounds the same / contains the same note pitches, which are played in the same order (the scales are enharmonic), so it can be used as a direct replacement for the D-sharp major scale.

        So a D# major chord would be D# F## A# . In any case, the Key of C minor contains three flats and the notes are:
        C D Eb F G Ab Bb. You would never write it as C D D# F Ab Bb
        Is it a big deal in the grand scheme of things — not really.

        Of course there is a D#minor chord (or diminished chord) in the keys of E B and F#! It does get confusing if you take the theory to the nth degree!

        https://crowssayveeeh.bandcamp.com/
        https://soundcloud.com/kevin-emmrich

      • April 5, 2020 at 8:05 am #167958
        charjo
        Moderator

          There is a D# major chord in the key of C#;-)
          John

        • April 5, 2020 at 8:58 am #167965
          Usernameinvalid
          Participant
            charjo wrote:

            There is a D# major chord in the key of C#;-)
            John

            That would be the D# minor chord in the key of C#.
            D# would be the second interval so it would be a minor chord.

          • April 5, 2020 at 11:31 am #167987
            charjo
            Moderator

              I stand corrected 🙁
              John

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