* Key 1 to Key 2 is a half step since they are next to each other.
* A half step is not always from a white key to a black key.
* In this example, Key 1 and Key 2 are still next to each other.
* A whole step is the same distance as two half steps.
* Key 1 to Key 3 is a whole step.
* Key 1 to Key 2 is the first half step. Key 2 to Key 3 is the second half step.
* An accidental is a sign used to raise or lower the pitch of a note.
* The first accidentals that we will discuss are the flat and the sharp.
* The flat lowers a note by a half step while the sharp raises a note by a half step.
* When typing, you can use a # to represent a sharp and a b to represent a flat.
* Let's examine the black key in between C and D.
* This key could be called C# since it is a half step above C.
* It could also be called Db since it is a half step below D.
* Another example would be E and F.
* E could also be called Fb since it is half step below F.
* Likewise, F could be called E#.
* Whenever a certain pitch has multiple names, it is called an enharmonic
* Next, let's discuss the double flat and the double sharp.
* While flats and sharps alter a note by a half step, the double flat and double sharp alter a note by a whole step.
* When typing, you can use a x to represent a double sharp and a bb to represent a double flat.
* For example, both D and Ebb have the same pitch since you can reach D by going a whole step (or two half steps) down from E.
* D also sounds the same as Cx since it is a whole step above C.
* Finally, a natural cancels out any accidental and returns a note to its original white key.
* We will learn more about naturals in an upcoming lesson.
Lesson Courtesy of MusicTheory.net
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