Different countries/universities have different standards on whether or not to display the flats before the chord symbols in minor keys. I used to prefer what you described, but I found that it gets a little cluttered when a song borrows lots of modal chords or has an ambiguous tonality. Because of this, I prefer the system that uses the major scale formula as the default and then adds flats or sharps as needed. I’ve seen this more often with jazz musicians than classical musicians.

@joeluegersmusicacademy thank you for answer, thou for me it doesn't make much sense to flat for example VI (or IV if to look at this from a major perspective) with A tonic because it would mix the 5 and 6 degrees of the scale unless it's a locrian one. So I have feelings that you might misunderstand something.

@@bibaboba-bk9coBy VI- I’m actually referring to a major 6th above the tonic, whether the tonic is major or minor. Jazz and pop music uses a lot of modal interchange, so although this method seems confusing at first it would be more confusing to constantly have to adjust whether or not flats/sharps are added. For example- Joe Satriani has a lot of songs that keep the same tonic but cycle through several different modes. It would be confusing for a III to represent both E and Eb within the same song which alternates between an Ionian and Dorian mode with a C tonic in both. The channel David Bennet Piano uses this same system of labeling- again, it’s more of a popular music/jazz thing.

Yes! I play a lot of games on the Switch with my kids. We’ve been going through the whole Kingdom Hearts series recently.

Each formula is for a different scale - major, natural minor, harmonic minor, natural minor, and so on - not referring to the key.

@@joeluegersmusicacademy well then it's not much difference is it? you're going to learn 21 different "adjustments" to the major scale

Thanks so much!

You think I’ll fall for that? I’ll never reply to your comment, you hear? Never!

And that comment didn’t count!

@@joeluegersmusicacademy 😞

That’s very motivating for me to hear! Right now I’m super busy making a 2 1/2 ear training video, but I do plan on returning to this series ASAP and I have at least 10 videos planned.

For sure! I’m very busy making a big 2 1/2 hour ear training video right now, but I do plan on returning to sight singing soon. The next video would probably be sight singing in minor keys.

@@joeluegersmusicacademy thanks! ✨