Micky Bananas
New member
Following a heated debate in the pub just the other night between myself (old 3 chord punk noise polluter) and my dear friend (old time jazzer and piano maestro) which basically started if my memory serves me because I said something about D# which made him wince somewhat and say "D#? What are you talking about....you mean Eb! There's no such note as D#!!!!"
Then followed a long tennis match arguement between us along the lines of "D# is the same as Eb you clown" and "there is no D# it's Eb you imbicile"...which I took great pleasure in as he got so worked up about it cos he's a "real musician" and I'm certainly nothing of the sort.
Anyway, upshot of this left me thinking, why is it (and for other notes not just D#) that some are referred to as Sharps and others as Flats (when they are basically the same note after all). Why not just use all sharps or all flats?
I'm guessing there is no real reason behind it, but more a case of it being "by convention" (which was my argument at the time) but was hoping that perhaps there was a reason behind it so as I can impress my learned musical chum next time I find myself at the bar with him.
Anybody care to shed some light on this matter for me? Many thanks in advance!
Then followed a long tennis match arguement between us along the lines of "D# is the same as Eb you clown" and "there is no D# it's Eb you imbicile"...which I took great pleasure in as he got so worked up about it cos he's a "real musician" and I'm certainly nothing of the sort.
Anyway, upshot of this left me thinking, why is it (and for other notes not just D#) that some are referred to as Sharps and others as Flats (when they are basically the same note after all). Why not just use all sharps or all flats?
I'm guessing there is no real reason behind it, but more a case of it being "by convention" (which was my argument at the time) but was hoping that perhaps there was a reason behind it so as I can impress my learned musical chum next time I find myself at the bar with him.
Anybody care to shed some light on this matter for me? Many thanks in advance!