High-Yield Music Theory, Vol. 1: Music Theory Fundamentals Piano

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High-Yield Music Theory, Vol. 1: Music Theory Fundamentals
Section 1.2
T
C
S
P
H E
H R O M A T I C
C A L E A N D T H E
I A N O
This section uses the piano, but the concepts apply to other instruments
Pattern of the
piano keyboard
and voice also. The piano repeats a pattern: groups of two black keys
alternate with groups of three. Every white key just to the left of a group of
two black keys is labeled as C. After G, the letter names start over with A.
2 black keys
3 black keys
2 black keys
3 black keys
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
Half step
A half step is the distance from one piano key to the next closest (whether
it happens to be white or black). E to F is a half step, because E and F are
next to one another. Similarly, B to C is a half step. E to F and B to C are the
Natural half steps
only natural half steps because they use letter names without accidentals.
Accidentals
The black keys use the letter of an adjacent white key plus a modifier called
an accidental. The most common accidentals are:
Flat, natural,
b
1.
= flat; one half step lower than (left of) a white key
sharp
§
2.
= natural; cancels other accidentals; indicates white notes on a piano
#
3.
= sharp; one half step higher than (right of) a white key
C#
D#
F#
G#
A#
C#
D#
F#
G#
A#
or
or
or
or
or
or
or
or
or
or
Db
Eb
Gb
Ab
Bb
Db
Eb
Gb
Ab
Bb
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
Enharmonic
Enharmonic notes are different names for the same piano key. For
notes
example, the black key called C sharp is one half step above C, but also one
half step below D. C sharp is enharmonic with D flat. White keys also have
enharmonic names: B raised one half step with a sharp is the white key C.

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