Steps and Accidentals
  • A half step is the distance from one key on the keyboard to the next adjacent key.
  • Key 1 to Key 2 is a half step since they are next to each other.
  • A half step is not always from a white key to a black key.
  • In this example, Key 1 and Key 2 are still next to each other.
  • A whole step is the same distance as two half steps.
  • Key 1 to Key 3 is a whole step.
  • Key 1 to Key 2 is the first half step. Key 2 to Key 3 is the second half step.
  • An accidental is a sign used to raise or lower the pitch of a note.
  • The first accidentals that we will discuss are the flat and the sharp.
  • The flat lowers a note by a half step while the sharp raises a note by a half step.
  • When typing, you can use a # to represent a sharp and a b to represent a flat.
  • Let's examine the black key in between C and D.
  • This key could be called C# since it is a half step above C.
  • It could also be called Db since it is a half step below D.
  • Another example would be E and F.
  • E could also be called Fb since it is half step below F.
  • Likewise, F could be called E#.
  • Whenever a certain pitch has multiple names, it is called an enharmonic spelling.
  • Next, let's discuss the double flat and the double sharp.
  • While flats and sharps alter a note by a half step, the double flat and double sharp alter a note by a whole step.
  • When typing, you can use a x to represent a double sharp and a bb to represent a double flat.
  • For example, both D and Ebb have the same pitch since you can reach D by going a whole step (or two half steps) down from E.
  • D also sounds the same as Cx since it is a whole step above C.
  • Finally, a natural cancels out any accidental and returns a note to its original white key.
  • We will learn more about naturals in an upcoming lesson.
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