Beginner
Notes, accidentals and enharmonics
The 7 notes, whole and half steps, sharps and flats.
Learn
1.The 7 notes
There are 7 note names: C, D, E, F, G, A, B. After B comes C again, one octave higher.
On the piano they are the white keys. The black keys are the altered notes.
2.Whole steps and half steps
A half step (semitone) is the smallest distance on the piano: from one key to the very next, black or white.
A whole step is two half steps. Between natural notes it’s always a whole step, except E–F and B–C, which are half steps (no black key between them).
The two natural half steps.
3.Sharp, flat and natural
A sharp ♯ raises a note by a half step. A flat ♭ lowers it by a half step. A natural ♮ cancels the accidental.
An accidental lasts until the end of the bar for that note. So to go back to F natural in the same bar, a natural sign is written.
4.Enharmonic notes
Two names can sound the same: C♯ and D♭ are the same key. These are enharmonic notes.
Which name is used depends on the key. There are also the double sharp 𝄪 and double flat 𝄫, which move two half steps.
Same sound, different name.
Practice
Exercise 1 of 5 · Pick one