Term
Definition
Half Step
The smallest difference in pitch on the keyboard
Whole Step
Two half steps combined
Sharp
Is the black key on the keyboard to the immediate right of a given white key
Flat
Is the black key on the keyboard to the immediate left of a given white key
Natural Sign
The symbol used to cancel the effect of a sharp or a flat
Enharmonic Equivalents
Two notes that sound the same but are notated differently
Key Signature
Consists of one or more sharps or flats written at the beginning of each staff and which apply to all notes of a given letter name
Accidentals
Sharps, flats, or naturals that cancel notes in the key signature
Double sharp
Is a less common symbol that raises the pitch of a note two half steps
Double Flat
Is a less common symbol that lowers the pitch of a note by two half steps
Scale
Is a collection of pitches arranged in order from lowest to highest pitch
Major Scale
The most common scale in western music which you can hear by playing the white keys beginning on c and ending on c.
Tonic or Keynote
Is the beginning point of a scale. Is the resting point in the scale and will generally be found as the final note of a melody
Diatonic Scales
A scale which have one and only one note with each letter name. Family of scales consisting of whole steps and half steps arranged in the order of the piano’s white keys.
Sharp Order
F C G D A E B
Flat Order
B E A D G C F
Circle of Fifths
Is a convenient device for memorizing the key signatures of the major scales.