The whole thing (i.e. intro to theory) is, quite clearly, logical. The thing that makes it confusing is hidden complexity.jancivil wrote:Not at all. First of all, a seven-note scale having seven letter names is normal.slipstick wrote:It's around the point that people start talking about C# and Db as though they're different notes and then talking about a B# when anyone can see that the next note up from B is C and there's no such thing as a B# that you realise that the OP was pretty much right.
C# D# E# F# G# A# B#.
Same 'logic' as C D E F G A B.
What's your problem with that?
The next note up from B flat is C? There's your logic. It's nonsense. You don't like enharmonics is all. Wouldn't surprise me if, because sharps all you see in the DAW piano roll then F G A A# C D E is a perfectly good representation of F major scale to you. If not, well you're inconsistent.
Most modern music, especially pop music, is extremely simple in harmonic terms. It rarely ventures into harmonic territory with remote modulations, and often uses lots of incidental chromatic alterations in an otherwise very simple harmonic framework. The distinction between c sharp and d flat has little practical import in such a harmonic framework.
I am not saying distinctions like this are unimportant. I love complex tonal harmony, and know that enharmonic relations can have deep theoretical importance in this context. I am simply saying that, if a whole musical culture regards the piano roll in Fruity Loops as ontologically fundamental, convincing them of the importance of enharmonic note spellings is an uphill battle of Gettysburg dimensions.
I think the best approach is to link to music that embodies or evinces the glories of complex and sophisticated tonal harmony: music from Wagner and Debussy to John Coltrane and Sun Ra.
People need to have a compelling reason to develop hard to acquire skills that are unintuitive to them. If hearing the music doesn't plant the seed of curiosity, incomprehensible (to them) lectures on the importance of enharmonic note spellings are unlikely to be more successful.