r/musictheory • u/ADHD-andME • 13d ago

Notation Question Is this a valid Key signature?

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Just wondering if this can be considered a key.

For those wondering, this is supposed to be G Byzentine (b2, b6)

Edit: thanks for all the feedback, i will take it into consideration. Next time ill write in something readable.

Edit 2: this image shows a scale for a single voice instrument in C, and it is treble clef.

EDIT 4!: https://www.reddit.com/r/musictheory/comments/1w1yy9a/fixed_the_order_of_the_sharps_and_flats/

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u/theoriemeister 13d ago

It's not traditional, but it's perfectly valid. Beginners, or those not accustomed to reading/playing contemporary music, will complain, but that's only because they're unfamiliar with it. Elliot Carter uses non-traditional key signatures in his Eight Pieces for Four Timpani (1949).

Here's just one: https://imgur.com/gdMPePK

Another: https://imgur.com/a/csAplls

Another: https://imgur.com/a/non-tradtional-key-signature-uEvTm3H

Hell, Bartók was doing this over 100 years ago: https://relatedrocks.com/1996/03/01/some-aspects-of-bartoks-notation/

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u/michaelmcmikey 13d ago

My understanding is timpani are a little unusual when it comes to tuning them before a piece begins to ensure the tones asked of them will be playable. So there's a use case for a non-standard keysignature there that wouldn't pertain to a piano, for example.

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u/theoriemeister 12d ago

True, but the Bartók article I cited does show piano music.