Piano Guidance
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What is the F4 trick?

Pressing the Alt and F4 keys together is a keyboard shortcut to close the currently active window. For example, if you press this keyboard shortcut while playing a game, the game window will close immediately.

Why is there no E sharp or F flat?
Why is there no E sharp or F flat?

There is no definitive reason why our current music notation system is designed as it is today with no B or E sharp, but one likely reason is due...

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Is it better to sleep in silence or with music?
Is it better to sleep in silence or with music?

Often, having a 'standby' sound keep your brain company as you fall asleep is better than silence because silence is more easily and effectively...

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Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
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 »

This is one of those jokes people play on each other -- it's in the same category with squirting flowers and exploding cigars. This joke works on machines running the Windows operating system because Windows happens to define certain keystrokes that work the same way in all applications. Just about everyone knows that Alt+Ctrl+Del interrupts the operating system, but most people don't know that Alt+F4 closes the current window. So if you had pressed Alt+F4 while playing a game, the game window would have closed. It turns out there are several other handy keystrokes like that built into Windows. For example, Ctrl+Esc will pop up the Start menu, Alt+Esc will bring the next window to the foreground, and Alt+Tab or Alt+Shift+Tab will let you cycle through all available windows and jump to the one you select. ­ On keyboards that have the little "Windows" key (let's call it WK here) down near the space bar, you probably know that you can press that key to open the Start menu. You can also use that key with other keys like you use the shift key. For example:

WK+e - starts the Windows Explorer

WK+f - starts the Find in Files dialog

WK+Ctrl+f - starts the Find a Computer on the Network dialog

WK+M - minimizes all the windows to clear the desktop

WK+Shift+M - restores all the minimized windows

WK+r - starts the Run dialog

WK+F1 - starts Windows Help

WK+Pause - starts System Properties

The last keyboard trick that every Windows user should be aware of is MouseKeys. If you go to the Accessibility Options icon in the Control Panel, you can go to the Mouse section and turn on MouseKeys. This feature allows you to use the numeric keypad in addition to the mouse to move the cursor. It's handy if you are on a bumpy airplane ride or if your mouse is acting up. Another neat feature in Accessibility Options is the ability to turn on a beeper that beeps when you press the Caps Lock key -- great if you are the sort of person who hits it accidentally!

See the next page for more information.

Originally Published: Apr 1, 2000

Is Yousician good for beginners?
Is Yousician good for beginners?

It's easy to be sniffy about Yousician, particularly if you take your playing seriously. However, for those that require practice time to be fun –...

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Is white vinegar as good as bleach?
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However, it's important to remember that while vinegar does work as a disinfectant to some degree, it is not as effective as bleach or commercial...

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Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
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 »

What is F8 F9?

The F9 function key retrieves the last command(s) entered on the command line, in the reverse order that they were entered. Now, you can use the F8 function key to retrieve commands in the opposite direction.

You are in: IBM i Technology Updates > General IBM i Operating System > F8 - F9 Retrieve command enhancements The F9 function key retrieves the last command(s) entered on the command line, in the reverse order that they were entered. Now, you can use the F8 function key to retrieve commands in the opposite direction. In addition to providing this new F8 function on the Command Entry display, the F8 key will also do a reverse retrieve on any UIM panel with a command line where the F8 key is not already defined for some other function. New search capability has also been added to the F9 = Retrieve key. You can type part of a command string followed by an asterisk, and then press the F9 key to search for the last previous command entered that matches the string. The search is not case sensitive but leading blanks are significant when performing the search.

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Does jazz make you happy?

“Jazz is a major stress buster and causes positive effects. It physically changes the body, and lowers heart rate and pulse, making us feel calmer...

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Can you sell ivory now?
Can you sell ivory now?

You cannot deal in items containing or made of elephant ivory, unless they are registered as exempt or certified as exempt, under the Ivory Act...

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It can be a bit overwhelming to learn chords by ear, but learning really isn't as 'impossible' as some guitar players feel it is. Just like...

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What key is helter skelter in?
What key is helter skelter in?

Helter Skelter is written in the key of E Major.

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