I agree that some of it is inconsistent. And that can be confusing or misleading. But that's how it developed & is used as the industry standard.

Originally Posted by: Whune

I mean... so what happens when you have an F# diminished Chord?[br]or a Bb augmented?

It seems like using sharp and augmented interchangeably is just silly.[br]They're NOT the same thing.[br][/quote][p]An F# diminished chord is rooted on the note F# & has a specific interval formula.

F# - 1st

A - minor 3rd

C - b5th

Bb augmented is:

Bb - 1st

D - major 3rd

G - aug 5th

It depends on the context. The term sharp can refer to a note (identifying a specific pitch by letter) or a scale degree (a specific interval distance from an implied root).

Augmented can refer to a scale degree (a specific interval distance) or a chord quality.

This does help distinguish them. You can have a C# as a note or a chord. You have to specify which. But you can't have a C# augmented note, only a C# augmented chord.

Ergo, you can't have a C # sharp chord. :)

[br]

Originally Posted by: Whune [br]So basically what i'm hearing is that flat being a matter of pitch doesn't really have any place in talking about scale degrees...

[/quote]

[br]The term flat is confusing because it's used in two specific, different contexts.

1. Specific pitch (Ab).

2. Scale degree (b5th).

So this can lead to confusing situations. But, yes, that's the convention.

Originally Posted by: Whune

yeah but that's all just a matter of perspective relative to where you coming from... right? How's that justify calling a scale degree flat/sharp?

Because the 5th is the same interval in both major & minor scales. For scale intervals we reserve the term minor for the scale degrees that are different (3rd, 6th, 7th).

I never use the term minor second. I think it's conceptually misleading. But I have to be aware that other people might use it. And it's pretty easy to understand as long as it's used in the right context.

[quote=Whune]

Scale degrees change relative to position;

like a m6 in relation to a 4th; is also a m3 in relation to a 1

Scale degrees don't change. But scale degree terms can also be used as interval distances.

A minor 6th is always 8 half-steps up from the root note of a scale.

And the distance from the 2nd degree of a scale to the minor 7th is always 8 half-steps, otherwise known as a distance of a minor 6th.

But it's always 8 half-steps.

[quote=Whune]

but pitch is absolute.

it's an accidental regardless of whether it's a 5, m7, sus4... or whatever

[br]right?

Yes, the note A# is the same note as the note Bb. And that note can be any given scale degree.