I am playing transcriptions of lots of old jazz orchestra classics from the 1930s and 1940s.

I keep encountering the key of 3 flats, and -- in second place -- 2 flats.

I have a friend who is a french horn player. He says that the key of 3 flats is much used because it helps reconcile the brass and strings. The instruments are tuned to different natural keys, and e-flat is a good compromise.

Does this make sense?

Why is it that so much popular orchestra music, such as Duke Ellington, is set up in three flats?

Thank you.

Eb just works well for all the brass and woodwinds. A piece in Eb will be written in:

F for trumpets, tenor sax, and Bb clarinets.
C for alto sax and alto clarinet.

In other words, your wind players will be able to read it much easier.

Strings don't care so much, although most would probably like simpler keys - three accidentals or less. All string instruments are written at concert pitch.

If you use some of the licks you learned using the Cm blues scale in Eb you have a whole new context for them.

glyptodont2 Even classical music. Victor Borge said that Beethoven wrote a lot of his music in 3-flats.....

..........because he had to move twice!


........Sorry, couldn't resist the "straight line"

LOL