Photo: Thomas Plets

Is E to F sharp a tone?

Therefore, the word tone means the distance of two semitones. For example, the distance from note A to note B (see example below) is a tone. Likewise, the distance from note E to F# is also a tone as shown below. In music notation, we write the sharp on the staff in front of the note.

doremistudios.com.au - Sharps, Flats and Semitones on the Piano - Do Re Mi Studios

Are piano keys still made of ivory?

In 1990, a global treaty was signed, banning trade in all kinds of rhino or elephant ivory. Pianos with ivory keys are no longer manufactured, but...

Last updated Sep 8, 2022

How many chords can be drawn in a circle?

Number of chords that can be formed using the 21 points =21×20×19! 2×1×19! Therefore, the number of chords that can be formed using the 21 points...

Last updated Sep 6, 2021

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Promotion

In western music, we use the first seven letters of the alphabet. In addition, there are sharps and flats in between all notes except between B and C and E and F. Below is a simplification of the note system used in western music. When you play piano, sharps and flats are the black notes as shown below. For example, the black key between note C and note D is called C# (C sharp) or Db (D flat).

What is a sharp?

A sharp is a sign used to raise the pitch (the sound) of a note by one semitone. The picture below shows you what a sharp looks like.

What is a flat?

A flat is a sign used to lower the pitch of a note by one semitone. The picture below shows you what a flat looks like. Notice in the piano keyboard above that note C# and note Db are the same note (same key). Likewise, the black key between notes D and E is called D# or Eb. It too, is the same note/key. The same can also be said for the remaining black notes. That is, they each have 2 names but are the same note. Musical notes that have two different names but are the same note are called enharmonic notes.

What is a semitone?

A semitone or half step is the smallest interval between two notes. In the example below, the distance from note F to note F# is a semitone. This is because there is no other note in between these two notes. Likewise, the distance from note B to note C (see example below) is also a semitone. Once again, there is no other note in between these two notes.

What is a tone?

As “semi” means half, that means the word semitone means half a tone. Therefore, the word tone means the distance of two semitones. For example, the distance from note A to note B (see example below) is a tone. Likewise, the distance from note E to F# is also a tone as shown below. In music notation, we write the sharp on the staff in front of the note. The example below illustrates this. We wrote the sharp first and then the note D. However, we call this note D sharp not sharp D. Yep I know! It is a bit odd. Likewise, we first have to write the flat on the staff and then the note itself. The example below again illustrates this. We wrote the flat first and then the note G. However, we call this note G flat. The distance between note C to the next note C (up or down in pitch) is called an octave (see below). An octave consists of 12 semitones. The twelve semitones that make up the octave from note C (on the left of the diagram above) to the next note C higher (on the right) are shown below:

Are left handed pianists better?

Researchers who studied handedness in professional pianists and string players found no difference between a left-hander's performance whether they...

Last updated Mar 25, 2020

What is the fastest note ever?

In music, a two hundred fifty-sixth note (or occasionally demisemihemidemisemiquaver) is a note played for 1⁄256 of the duration of a whole note....

Last updated May 2, 2022

Promotion

Can I use F keys without Fn?

Method 1. Toggle the Fn Lock key All you have to do is look on your keyboard and search for any key with a padlock symbol on it. Once you've...

Last updated Mar 7, 2018

Who invented instruments?

Antiquity. Images of musical instruments begin to appear in Mesopotamian artifacts in 2800 BC or earlier. Beginning around 2000 BC, Sumerian and...

Last updated Sep 8, 2018

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »

Promotion

Do thicker strings hold tune better?

So generally speaking, if all other factors are the same in terms of how the strings are made, how they were stored, how long they've been on your...

Last updated Feb 24, 2020

Promotion

What musical instrument is easiest to learn for adults?

The easiest instruments to learn are ukulele, harmonica, bongos, piano, and glockenspiel. Learning these instruments as an adult will be...

Last updated Apr 22, 2019