Basic Music Theory: How to Read, Write, and Understand Written Music

Basic Music Theory

3. What is a whole step?


4. What are the two natural half steps?


5. Which accidentals are used when going up a
   chromatic scale?


6. Which accidentals are used when coming down a
   chromatic scale?
   3. Two half steps
   4. B-C
   E-F
   5. Sharps
   6. Flats

Practical Use

1. Write out the chromatic scale from A to A in either clef. Refer to example
   20.5 if you must.


2. Identify the notes on the keyboard (use the side with no note names :-).


3. From the note C, count up three half steps. What note did you get? It should
   be Eb. Start on F# and count down two whole steps. What note did you get?
   Should be a D.


4. Get in front of a real piano/keyboard. Find all of the E-sharps on the piano.
   Find all of the C-flats on the keyboard. Find the F-flats. The B-sharps (hint:
   enharmonic notes).


5. Mess around with the piano and find sounds you like. Write out the sounds
   you most like. To get you oriented, the C in the middle of the piano is called
   Middle C, and it’s written as a line note, one leger line below the treble clef
   staff. Middle C in bass clef is written as a line note one leger line above the bass
   clef staff.