Originally Posted by: light487Well I wasn't even sure my post was correct.. It was more of a practise exercise in music theory for me than just a straight out reply.. :) [/quote]
Good practice. And you got it right! Good for you. :)
[QUOTE=light487]I'll never really understand why it's better to notate as flat instead of sharp in some cases.. the only time I've understood it is when the scale has two of the same "letter" in it.. like if the scale had A, A# then C, I would write the A# as B-flat. Anyway, it's not really important I guess, as long as everyone understands what you have said or written on the music etc

You've got the idea here, too. To avoid "two of the same letter being used."

It is important when it can help make things easier to understand or clarify the issue involved. In this case, the pentatonic scale "avoids" certain notes, but that doesn't mean they aren't there.

F minor: F, G, A-flat, B-flat, C, D-flat, E-flat
F minor pentatonic: F, A-flat, B-flat, C, E-flat

So, the second note of the scale (G) is one of the diatonic notes that pentatonic avoids. But it is part of the parent scale (the scale from which it originates), so it is still "there" but being avoided in order to create the derivative pentatonic scale. We use A-flat instead of G-sharp because G is already taken.

Look at it the other way around for another reason.

G-sharp major: G-sharp, A-sharp, B-sharp, C-sharp, D-sharp, E-sharp, F-double sharp!

... versus using ...

A-flat major: A flat, B-flat, C, D-flat, E-flat, F, G

Both are right. But, which one looks easier to deal with?