Topmusicanswers
- Why do music notes start with C?
- Is there such a note as C flat?
- Why are there flats and sharps?
- Why is there no F or C flat?
Why do music notes start with C?
The answer is that that the most familiar melodies use the major scale: whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step. And that is the pattern of steps outlined by the white keys of the piano if you start on C. Naturally the C major scale is therefore the first one everyone learns.
Is there such a note as C flat?
Cb is a white key on the piano. Another name for Cb is B, which has the same note pitch / sound, which means that the two note names are enharmonic to each other. It is called flat because it is 1 half-tone(s) / semitone(s) down from the white note after which is is named - note C.
Why are there flats and sharps?
Flats and sharps are necessary to allow every version of the diatonic scale to start at any point on the chromatic scale without repeating a note letter name, or assigning different notes in our chosen diatonic scale to the same line on the musical stave.
Why is there no F or C flat?
Why is there no C flat or F flat? Simply because, acoustically speaking, there is no room in our current system for another pitch between B and C, or E and F. The scale was originally conceived of as a 7 note scale, with the notes A, B, C, D, E, F, G.
