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The odd thing, I found knowing the relationship more important than knowing the name. As you pointed out knowing that the flat 3rd gives you a minor chord. The “Generic” relationship is more important because it is all the same in all twelve note tones. By knowing one relationship you understand 12 keys. I used to tell the guys I played with that there is only one scale: start it anywhere to give it different names/tonal flavor, but it is all the same. all of the derivatives are based off of that one scale. Knowing where everything is relative to the Root/1st scale degree or root chord tone, where is the 3 and the flat 3, where is the 5 and flat 5 and where is the 7 and the major 7 and where is the 6 and 13 and the flats of those. Knowing that transfers the knowledge to any key. Knowing one set of relationships opens 12 keys with no more work. it was a 12 for 1 sale. The notes I learned later. They made sense to me because I had contextual knowledge. They were not ambiguous labels I could never remember fast enough to be useful in playing situations. I liked that short cut. That is the only reason I focused on relationships rather than names. But hey I was an impatient player at the start and I wanted to get where I wanted to go and fast. If you are a good memorizer that is the way to go at the start I suppose. I admit I am not a good memorizer and transferring brain memory to physical usefulness is something I need short cuts for.
