Topmusicanswers
- How do you know which notes are sharp or flat in a scale?
- What determines sharp or flat?
- How do you determine the number of sharps in a major scale?
How do you know which notes are sharp or flat in a scale?
A sharp sign means "the note that is one half step higher than the natural note". A flat sign means "the note that is one half step lower than the natural note". Some of the natural notes are only one half step apart, but most of them are a whole step apart.
What determines sharp or flat?
In music, sharp, dièse (from French), or diesis (from Greek) means, "higher in pitch". More specifically, in musical notation, sharp means "higher in pitch by one semitone (half step)". Sharp is the opposite of flat, which is a lowering of pitch. A sharp symbol, ♯, is used in key signatures or as an accidental.
How do you determine the number of sharps in a major scale?
To figure out which major key you're in, look at the last sharp in the key signature. If it's on a line, go up to the next step; if it's a space, go up to the next line. That's what key you're in. For example, if you have four sharps — F#, C#, G#, and D# — look to the last sharp — D#.
