Piano Guidance
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What does ## mean in piano?

By Brandy Kraemer. Updated on 04/21/19. A double-sharp is an accidental for a note that has two sharps, meaning the original note is raised by two half-steps (also called semitones). The double-sharp symbol resembles a bold letter "x" and is placed before a notehead, similar to other accidentals.

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A double-sharp is an accidental for a note that has two sharps, meaning the original note is raised by two half-steps (also called semitones). The double-sharp symbol resembles a bold letter "x" and is placed before a notehead, similar to other accidentals. The primary difference between a single sharp and a double sharp is the number of half-steps by which the natural note is altered. With a regular sharp, the natural note is raised one half-step, whereas, with a double-sharp, the natural note is raised two half-steps — meaning it is raised by a whole step. On the piano, single sharps usually point to black piano keys; double-sharps often point to piano naturals. For example, G# is a black key, but Gx is otherwise known as A-natural. You can read more about enharmonic notes to understand when one note has two different names, and why they are used in music notation. Exceptions to the concept of double-sharps resulting in a white key are Bx and Ex, which are the C# and F# keys.

The Purpose of the Double-Sharp

Double-accidentals are not seen in any working key signature. In fact, if there were a key signature after C# major (which has the maximum of seven sharps), it would contain one F double-sharp, but that idea really belongs to a conversation about theoretical key signatures. In everyday notation, double-sharps are necessary for certain scenarios. In its essence, the double-sharp is largely used for purposes of adhering to the rules of music theory. For example, a piece of music written in the key of C# Major puts a sharp on every note. Let's say that the composer wanted to write an A natural in a measure that already contains some A#s. Instead of alternating between writing A natural and A# sharp the composer might indicate the harmony on an A natural with a G double-sharp. In another instance, the rule also applies to chords. A chord typically has a root, a third, a fifth, and in this example, a seventh. The intervals indicate their place above the root of the chord. In an A# major 7th chord, there are four notes. The root, A#; the major third, Cx; the perfect fifth, E#; and the major seventh, which is Gx.

Canceling a Double-Sharp

A double-sharp is canceled in a couple of different ways. First, it depends if the note should revert back to a regularly sharped note or back to its natural state. For reverting a double-sharped note back to a single-sharp, simply indicate the change by placing a sharp symbol in front of the notehead. It is also considered correct to indicate a natural sign and a sharp sign in front of the notehead, but it tends to be more difficult to read. However, if the note needs to be returned back to its completely natural state, a natural sign would be used.

Other Names for a Double-Sharp

Musical terms can have different identities in other common music languages such as Italian, French, and German. In Italian, the double-sharp is called a doppio diesis; in French, it's a double-dièse; and in German, it is a Doppelkreuz.

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What is C * in piano?

The C major chord is made up of three notes: C, E, and G. To play the root position chord on the piano with your right hand, you'd use the following three fingers: G - Fifth finger (5) E - Third finger (3) C - First finger (1)

How to play C major on the piano

Looking down at the piano, you'll notice black keys in groups of two and three. Just to the left of each group of two black keys, you’ll find the note C, the root of one of the most common chords played on the piano: C major. The C major chord is made up of three notes: C, E, and G. To play the root position chord on the piano with your right hand, you’d use the following three fingers:

G - Fifth finger (5)

E - Third finger (3)

C - First finger (1)

To play the root position chord with your left hand, you’d use the following fingers:

G - First finger (1)

E - Third finger (3)

C - Fifth finger (5)

Depending on what you’re playing, you may use different fingers to play the chord. If you haven't yet, look at the video above to see how the C major chord is built.

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