High-Yield Music Theory, Vol. 1: Music Theory Fundamentals Piano Page 2
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1
2Chapter 1: Music Notation
11
Double flat
A double flat lowers a flat note by another half step, keeping the same
letter name. Double flats are thus two half steps lower than the white key
Double sharps
(natural) note. Similarly, a double sharp (looks like an x) raises a sharp
note by another half step, keeping the same letter name. Double sharps are
two half steps higher than the white key (natural) note.
Db
D#
Cº
C#
D
C
Dº
DX
Cb
CX
All enharmonics
The piano keyboard below shows all the enharmonic names for the keys.
C#
D#
F#
G#
A#
C#
D#
Db
Eb
Gb
Ab
Bb
Db
Eb
BX
Fº
EX
Cº
BX
Fº
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
B#
CX
DX
E#
FX
GX
AX
B#
CX
DX
Dº
Eº
Fb
Gº
Aº
Bº
Cb
Dº
Eº
Fb
Whole step
A whole step is two half steps. For instance, for C up to D, the two half
#
#
steps are C to C
and C
to D.
Scale
A scale (from the Italian word for ladder) is a series of notes from low to
high (or high to low) following some pattern of whole steps and half steps.
Chromatic scale
A chromatic scale lists all the notes (white and black keys) in order, usually
from C to the next C above or below. Chromatic scales use only half steps.
Ascending chromatic scales use sharps for black piano keys. Descending
chromatic scales use flats for black piano keys.
w w # w w # w w
Ascending chromatic scale (uses sharps for black keys)
&
w w # w w # w w w #
C
C# D
D# E
F
F# G
G# A
A# B
C
w w w b w w b w w b w
Descending chromatic scale (uses flats for black keys)
&
w w b w w b w
C
B
Bb
A
Ab G
Gb
F
E
Eb D
Db
C
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