MusicReasonScales, Keys, Intervals, and Notation
What is the correct spelling for this pitch in this key?
Choose a pitch class and a key context. This tool selects the recommended notation spelling and shows the exact rule that produced it, never presenting a spelling as universally correct without that context.
Answer
Understand
Notation spelling follows a priority order, not a coin flip: a scale or key's own letter sequence comes first, since it determines which letter name a pitch class must use to avoid skipping or repeating a letter. Only a pitch class genuinely outside the declared context falls back to the key's general sharp or flat tendency.
Worked examples
In D major, the pitch class shared by F-sharp and G-flat resolves to F-sharp, since D major's own scale requires an F at that position. In D-flat major, the very same pitch class resolves to G-flat instead, since D-flat major's scale requires a G there.
Method and limitations
The tool checks the declared key's diatonic scale first; an exact pitch-class match uses that scale degree's own letter and accidental. A pitch class outside the scale is spelled using the key's own sharp or flat tendency instead of a fixed default. Double-accidental spellings are valid notation in some contexts but are outside this launch version's displayed vocabulary.