Help on understanding Key Measures.

• Feb 21, 2013 - 03:02

Just want to start off by saying I really don't know much about reading sheet music, so I want to apologize for any of my ignorance.

I am trying to recreate a piano composition. They don't use symbols at the begining of the staff/measure but a letter(s) above the treble staff. One of which is "Dm". My first thought was that "D minor" since it had a little "m". But the only key signature in the palette is F major / D minor. The thing that makes me think that it is incorrect is because the 3rd measure has a "F" and I don't think they have the same key. There is also a "Dm9" latter on, if you could help me with that also.

Thanks,
Matt

Comments

• Feb 21, 2013 - 03:19

You're in for quite a ride, learning to read music is learning another language. Please post a pic of the music you are trying to do as it will likely help to answer future questions.

The symbols above the notes are indeed the chords, Dm being D minor, Dm9 being D minor with the 9'th note in the D minor scale (E) included. Just reading the chords (with all the variety) can be a chore.

The key signature F major is the same as D minor, one flat on the B line in the staff. Does the sheet music have a proper key signature at the beginning?

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• Feb 21, 2013 - 06:23

Chords symbols have very little to do with key signature. A piece might have D minor chords but be in the key of C, or Bb, or F, or A, or G,, etc. Or it might actually be im D mimor. No way to tell without knowing a lot more about how the chords work. Also, a piece might well be in the key of F, or D minor, or whatever, but not bother with a key signature.

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