mevenden

Some music theory has to be memorize such as key signatures number of flats and sharps and modal scales when trying to learn jazz. Well I was wondering if anyone had really thought out the quickest way to memorize this stuff.

Not everyone begins this instrument when there still young so it would be real helpful to be able to use memonics or something to pick up the essential theory stuff to hit the ground running when trying to advance.


BTW happy new year and thanks to everyone. I really appreciate your feedback.

Mark London UK

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Mark
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Skype: evostick

jason_boddie

Ah, Theory a subject I am not a comeback player at, right in my wheel house. The best and most long lasting way to remember various elements of theory is application. If you want to pound key signatures in your head, pull out a church hymnal and go song by song identifying the key signatures. You can also indentify what mode they are in.

Identifying keys at the beginning of charts or fakebooks will come much quicker after you have done some practicing on it. As far as number of sharps/flats. I never identified key signatures by the number of sharps and flats. I did by the order of sharps and flats.

for instance flats:

BEADGCF is the order of flats. I memorized that by remembering; Bead Greatest Common Factor. Once I knew the order, and looked at a key signature with 3 flats. I knew that was either Ab major or f minor. As the next to the last flat names the Major key.

3 flats = Ab
5 flats = Db

etc., etc.

Sharps are different. You can either know the order by realizing that it is exactly the reverse of the order of flats. Or, I have a rather un-politically correct way of memorizing it.

FCGDAEB = Fat Chicks Get Drunk At Every Bar they taught me that at 13 in basic theory and it has stuck all these years.

Now, the rule to apply is:

go to the last sharp, then up a half step to name your Major key.

Eample:

2 shrps = Dmajor or b minor
5 sharps = B major or gminor

Hope these simple little rules I memorized a long time ago may help.

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Liblip

I love this stuff. The one I grew up on for sharps and flats come from mevenden's home turf:

Father Christmas Gave Dad An Electric Blanket
Blanket Exploded And Dad Got Cold Feet.

Whatever works! -Ed

Stile442

I'm sure it was just a typo but 3 flats would be Eb major or c minor

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jason_boddie

yes it was, sorry about that.

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Markie

Here's how i learned the modes, two storys: First story, I suffered through a class of theory and was totally confused.
Second story: I came up with two ways of figureing modes.
1) memorize these names: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aolean, Locrian
How to memorize? take the first letters from each word and make up a phrase.
The phrase I use is R rated so I'll give you a PG 13 version. Here ya go.
I Don't Play Lousy Music Any Longer

OK!! once you've done that play the C major scale.
play C to C, that's a Ionian
play D to D in the key of C. That's a Dorian
play E to E in the key of C. That's a Phrygian
play F to F in the key of C. That's a Lydian
play G to G in the key of C. That's a Mixolydian
play A to A in the key of C. That's a Aeolian
play B to B in the key of C. That's a Locrian
This works for all 12 major scales
Betcha didn't know you knew so many modes didja.

Now's the confusing part. Sometimes people will ask what key?
C Ionian = C
C Dorian = Bb
C Phrygian = Ab
C Lydian = G
C Mixolydian = F
C Aeolian = Eb
C Locrian = Db

An easy way to memorize this is to think numerically
From any given key signature the
Ionian stays as is
Dorian, 1 step down
Phrygian, 2 steps down
Lydian, 2 1/2 steps down
-------------------------
Mixolydian, 2 1/2 steps up
Aeolian, 1 1/2 steps up
Locrian, 1/2 step up
So I just remember the modes are either down or up from a given key signature
the modes that go down are 1, 2, 2 1/2 steps
the modes that go up are 2 1/2, 1 1/2, and 1/2
of course the Ionian = 0 as it does not move from the key signature.
Hope this helps

jason_boddie

WOW I am glad you can wrap your brain around that, I am lost.

Of course I am Southern, see the "It Works" thread for proof of that.......

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Jason I Boddie
Sterling Brass Trumpet I
Yamaha 6310 zs
Warburton 4md Lexan cup, series 80 KT backbore

www.sterlingbrass.vpweb.com

www.myspace.com/jasoniboddie

Markie

Hi Jason,
Just pay attention to the first part where the word 'play" is used.
The other part(what key? and the number of steps) will make sense later.
Good luck

JunkyT

I know this stuff pretty well, and I was confused by Markie's post until I worked it out. I think what confused me is that you started talking about playing the modes of the C major scale (i.e. D to D in the key of C), but then went on to explain the key signatures using the modes with C as your starting note.

But as you say, it's more important to internalize the sound of each mode that to memorize key signatures.

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Markie

You bet it can be confusing. Hence, the "this is the confusing part" But, once you figured it out "you get it". Not bad huh, a couple of weeks of modal theory in one page.