Music 120

Clavichord

A keyboard instrument used from the Late Middle Ages to c. 1800, not very loud and often utilized as a practice instrument.

Harpsichord

A keyboard instrument from the end of the 15th century to the 1790s, where strings are plucked and lacks expressiveness.

Piano

Invented in 1709 by Bartolomeo Cristofori; originally called 'Gravicembalo col piano e forte', it translates to 'Harpsichord with soft and loud'.

Half Step

The smallest interval in Western music, represented as the distance between any two adjacent keys on the piano, white or black.

Whole Step

An interval consisting of two half steps on the piano keyboard.

Accidental

A symbol placed in front of a note to raise or lower the pitch normally represented by that note.

Sharp (♯)

An accidental that raises the pitch of a note by a half step.

Flat (♭)

An accidental that lowers the pitch of a note by a half step.

Double Sharp (𝄪)

An accidental that raises the pitch of a note by a whole step.

Double Flat (𝄫)

An accidental that lowers the pitch of a note by a whole step.

Natural (♮)

An accidental that cancels the effect of a previous accidental, indicating that the note should be played in its natural state.

Enharmonic Notes

Two notes that sound alike but are spelled differently, such as C# and Db.