There are two types of steps: half steps and whole steps. Theoretically, each piano key could have several names (the note C could also be considered D♭♭, for instance), but it's usually not necessary to know more than two enharmonic spellings.Ī scale is a succession of pitches ascending or descending in steps. When two note names share a key on the keyboard, they are said to have enharmonic equivalence. Notice that some of the piano keys have two names (see the illustration below). Try this exercise to name all the keys on the piano keyboardĪnd also try this exercise to review how to name notes on the grand staff by using the correct accidentals 2.14 Enharmonic Equivalence The example below shows the symbols for flat, natural, sharp, double sharp, and double flat, respectively. When you raise a note that is already flat by a half step, you add a natural.When you raise a note that is already sharp by a half step, you add a double sharp.
When you raise one of the white notes of the piano by a half step, you add a sharp. When you lower a note that is already sharp by a half step, you add a natural. When you lower a note that is already flat by a half step, you add a double flat. When you lower one of the white notes of the piano by a half step, you add a flat. When they are placed next to a note on a staff, they are written before the note. When described as as words, they are written after the note name (e.g. 2.13 AccidentalsĪccidentals are used to indicate when a pitch has been raised or lowered by one or two half steps. For example, the distance between C and D is a whole step because it includes two half steps (C to C#, C# to D).īefore you move on to the next section, review this online lesson, which illustrates the half step, whole step, and introduces accidentals. What's a whole step?Ī whole step is equivalent to two half steps. Since they describe two adjacent keys, these are examples of half steps as well. However, there are two pairs of white keys on the piano that have no black keys in between them (E and F, B and C). For example, the distance between a white key and its next adjacent black key is a half step. What's a half step?Ī half step describes the distance between a key and the next adjacent key on the piano. One of the reasons why we use the keyboard is to help you visualize how pitches are organized on the chromatic scale, a series of pitches arranged by ascending or descending half steps. Try this exercise to name the white keys on the piano keyboard 2.12 Half Steps and Whole Steps 
On the illustration below, the pitch-class letter names are written on the keyboard. The keyboard is great for helping you develop a visual, aural, and tactile understanding of music theory.
2.1 Half Steps and Whole Steps 2.11 The Keyboard
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