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that looks kind of like an asterisk, or an x - and it means to do something like go up a half step, or down a half step, or something like that - I'm trying to read through Schumann's Romance, and I'm not sure I'm doing it right. Thanks!
Jodi (the theory dope)

A little "x" is a double sharp - that is, go up 2 half-steps from the natural note. I hope that's the one you mean!

So, if the note is already sharp, I just go up one half step, right? It sounds right everywhere but in the 7th measure, and then it just didn't sound quite right, so I wasn't sure if I was doing it correctly. What's the reason for notating with a double sharp? Thanks! Jodi

Hi Jodi,

The double sharp accidental is always applied to the natural of the note, just like any other accidental. Same end result of course as "up a 1/2 step from a sharp".

According to my teacher, the use of the double sharp has to do with keeping the "spelling" of the manuscript in sync with the key the piece is written in.

Dan

Double sharps and double flats are used to raise or lower, respectively, a note that is already a sharp or flat in the particular key you are playing in. The idea of using a double sharp or double flat is to accurately indicate which note of the scale is being raised or lowered. That's why you use a double sharp rather than just notating the next highest note on the keyboard. If you don't understand this, it really doesn't matter unless you want to know music theory.

Thanks, guys. Jodi

In the music of Galina Ustvolskaya, you can find triple flats and triple sharps as well. This is due to her being used to write chromatic scales in a diatonic way.

I can imagine someone has used quadruple flats and sharps as well.

What's the notation for a triple sharp? Is it ### or is it #X or is it X#?

triple sharp = extra hot salsa!

No?

Sorry!

Regards,

Just out of curiosity, does anyone have a reason that the double sharp is an X instead of ##? The double flat is expressed that way(with the lopsided 'b' of course)

I've seen ## as well as x to mean double sharp...and as for flats, I've also seen bb with a slanting line through the flats to connect them. I don't know why double flat doesn't have its own separate symbol like the sharp does... (?)

x is double sharp. Just go up a half step from a sharp. You're doing fine!

jodi,

As explained above, there are a couple of reasons why the X (double-sharp) must be used. I'll add an example just for grins. . .

Let's say you're in C# major, everything is sharped (c#-d#-e#-f#-g#-a#-b#-c#). Composer will move to the dominant (up a perfect 5th), so we can expect to go to G# major somewhere during the course of the piece. The spelling of G# major is: g#-a#-b#-c#-d#-e#-fX-g#

The double-sharp is because you must keep it alphabetical (logical within the system of music theory), or the theory gods will grow to anger, then who knows what will happen. Why can't the G# major be spelled as A-flat major? Because of 5th relationship between keys. G# major is related to C# major, the upper tetrachord of C# major becomes the lower in the next related key (circle of 5ths). A-flat major has nothing at all to do with C# major.

Or. . . spelling a chord. Must be stacked like a snowman (thirds) on the page (on the staff, when put into root position). For example, play B-flat,D,F,A-flat (B-flat 7th chord).

This chord could also be spelled:
A#,CX,E#,G#

Sounds the same, but spelled differently, depending on what key you're in.

Hope the above makes some sense. Hard to explain without the ability to show notes on the staff!

Good enough reason for me. Jodi

A ## is a 1/4 step up from a #.

Rvaga:

I must admit to being an absolute dud at writing this sort of thing out properly. I make things up using all sorts of chords and all sorts of keys no problems - fluent as the day is long - but writing them out - oh dear !

I have to admit to being thoroughly incorrect and lazy for the sake of clarity most of the time and, for example, writing an essential D major sound in a Db context as D natural, F sharp and A natural rather than E double flat, G flat and B double flat.

What is the relative major of C-sharp minor?? (-20)

The "B" section is of course in D-flat major, after the double bar and the key change, which is indeed a complete SECTION of music, not an internal key change or a transient modulation.

rvaga, yes, I misspoke, should've said "parallel" instead of "relative." Still, I believe my point stands. Here's a better example: Schubert's Impromptu Op. 90 #4. It begins in ab minor. In measure 19 it seems to go into b minor, which, you would say, has nothing to do with ab minor. But it (the b minor section) must be understood as cb minor, just notated in an easier way. And there is no double bar, it is not an entire section, it is only a transient modulation.

Thanks for listening.

I don't wish to resurrect a dead thread but who publishes her music? I have been looking for her piano sonatas for some time now and have come up with nothing. Is there a European publisher?

Sikorski, if I'm not mistaken.