A weird scale!

[TANIA]

I'm learning a song that has a weird note in it. It's in Gm as specified with the key signature , but it also has an A flat that keeps coming back over and over. In fact, all A notes are flat in this song. If all A notes are going to be flat , so why they don't just add that flat to the key signature and get over with it? I've seen some sharp or flat notes that don't belong to the scale before, but they usually come and go. This one repeats itself every time it comes around.

[Martinkorg]

I'm learning a song that has a weird note in it. It's in Gm as specified with the key signature , but it also has an A flat that keeps coming back over and over. In fact, all A notes are flat in this song. If all A notes are going to be flat , so why they don't just add that flat to the key signature and get over with it? I've seen some sharp or flat notes that don't belong to the scale before, but they usually come and go. This one repeats itself every time it comes around.

That sounds like a Cm scale. I'd say it's a print error.

[TANIA]

I'd say it's a print error.

No way, this is the 6th edition of this song book! I picked it up from the music library of San Diego music department. It's totally ligitimate.

[Sam CA]

I'm learning a song that has a weird note in it. It's in Gm as specified with the key signature , but it also has an A flat that keeps coming back over and over. In fact, all A notes are flat in this song. If all A notes are going to be flat , so why they don't just add that flat to the key signature and get over with it? I've seen some sharp or flat notes that don't belong to the scale before, but they usually come and go. This one repeats itself every time it comes around.

It's not a weird scale at all!!!!!!! it's actually a very common key in Jazz and flamenco and lots of new age music styles. Every time you lower the second degree of a natural minor scale, you get what's called a "PHRYGIAN" mode. So this song is in G phrygian! it's one of the several church modes that eventually gave birth to "major and minor " scales!!!!

[Lee]

Sam,
What you know abut music is amazing to me,
Thanks for all the teaching to us!
Lee

[TANIA]

I'm learning a song that has a weird note in it. It's in Gm as specified with the key signature , but it also has an A flat that keeps coming back over and over. In fact, all A notes are flat in this song. If all A notes are going to be flat , so why they don't just add that flat to the key signature and get over with it? I've seen some sharp or flat notes that don't belong to the scale before, but they usually come and go. This one repeats itself every time it comes around.

It's not a weird scale at all!!!!!!! it's actually a very common key in Jazz and flamenco and lots of new age music styles. Every time you lower the second degree of a natural minor scale, you get what's called a "PHRYGIAN" mode. So this song is in G phrygian! it's one of the several church modes that eventually gave birth to "major and minor " scales!!!!

YES! This morning i stopped by the music department and asked a music major. It was indeed a phrygian mode. Thanks

[macboy]

What is problem with Gm and A ? I always play in those sequences. Or did I not understand the problem (I have no musical knowledge of notes, just know what Gm chord is and what A chord is)

[TANIA]

What is problem with Gm and A ? I always play in those sequences. Or did I not understand the problem (I have no musical knowledge of notes, just know what Gm chord is and what A chord is)

You misunderstood the question. It was about the key signature of the scale and not chords. Also the note in question was not A...it was Ab.

[Martinkorg]

Oops! I'd never heard of phrygian mode. The name was foreign, but the sound was familiar when i tried it on the keyboard. It's very close to Gm scale. You just have an Ab chord instead of A major. Interesting