Hi Sparrows,
I am very new in Dizi. However, I have some staff notation background.
The Key of Dizi seams to be the major scale of the Key engrave on the Dizi.
Scale is a sequence of ordered musical notes
In one Octave, The chromatic scale have 12 notes (White and Black key in piano)
Here is the C Chromatic scale:
C, C#/Db, D, D#/Eb, E, F, F#/Gb, G, G#/Ab, A, A#/Bb, B
Note that: The C# is the same as Db which have the same sound, only the name is different (depend on the scale).
The formula of major scale is 1-3-5-6-8-10-12
If your Dizi is Key C, Number 1 is the name the key = C, Number 3 is D, Number 5 is E.....
When you pick the note from above will be = C, D, E, F, G, A, B,...
This is C major scale which suite in the Dizi, and this Dizi unable to play half tone (#,b) note (Black keys in piano).
If you want to play the half note (Black keys), you have to cover half of the hole (It's difficult) as the finger chart below.
When the formula of natural minor scale is 1-3-4-6-8-9-11
For the A Chromatic scale will be A, A#/Bb, B, C, C#/Db, D, D#/Eb, E, F, F#/Gb, G, G#/Ab,...
Then, A natural minor scale will be = A, B, C, D, F, F, G,...
You will see that all note of C Major is = C, D, E, F, G, A, B match with
all note of A natural minor scale = A, B, C, D, F, F, G
This explain that why the Key C Dizi able to play with the A minor.
However, for the D key Dizi
For the D Chromatic scale is D, D#/Eb, E, F, F#/Gb, G, G#/Ab,A, A#/Bb, B, C, C#/Db,...
The formula of major scale is 1-3-5-6-8-10-12
When you pick the note from above, the D Major scale will be D, E, F#/Gb, G, A, B, C#/Db
You will see that it's have F#/Gb and C#/Db key that cannot play with Dizi key C
If you want to play the F#/Gb and C#/Db, you have to cover half of the hole (It's difficult) as the finger chart below.
But you can easily play this song with Dizi key D
Because Key D Dizi have all of these notes D, E, F#/Gb, G, A, B, C#/Db (Match with all D Major scale)