music theory

Notes above the middle line: the stem points downward; for notes below the middle line, stems point upward; notes on the middle line can point in either direction, depending on the surrounding notes.

Treble Clef Lines

Treble Clef Spaces

Bass Clef Lines

Bass Clef Spaces

Grand Staff

generic intervals

distance between notes (first note counts as one, not zero)

Half step

A half step above a key on the piano is the key to its immediate right, while a half step below a key on the piano is the key to its immediate left.

Whole steps

A whole step is two half steps. A whole step above is two keys to its right, while a whole step below is two keys to its left.

Sharp accidental

raises a note by a half step

Flat accidentals

lowers a note by a half step

Natural accidental

cancels out a previous accidental

Double sharp accidental

raises a note by a whole step, while a double flat lowers a note by a whole step

Black keys on keyboard