is there a reason for this - Theory / composition / technique forums

Forums - Theory / composition / technique

Subject: is there a reason for this

Pages: 1 2

Original Message Date: 31-Dec-01 @ 12:31 PM - is there a reason for this

monkeyboy

Posts: 135

Link?: Link
File?: No file

this could be the stupidest question asked in this forum, but i was wondering why there is a black key missing on the keyboard? what i mean is that there is no E sharp/F flat, why is this? ive got the jist of the layout- 8 notes...12 semitones, but i dont understand WHY these semitones are not there. does any one know or is it just a case of 'because it is'?

[ back to forum ] [quote]

Message 11/18 17-Jan-02 @ 09:15 AM - RE: is there a reason for this

bedwyr

Posts: 2890

Link?: Link

File?: No file

poison code, lol.

[ back to forum ] [quote]

Message 12/18 17-Jan-02 @ 08:00 PM - RE: is there a reason for this

knowa

Posts:

Link?: Link

File?: No file

funnny, xoxos. miscegenation of the half-steps. right, the white keys=c major scale. what I meant was, I would be curious to know why c major and not e.g. d minor became the scale around which the layout was organized, and if there was ever any old-school d-minor-centric harpsichords. or something. jesus, who cares? I post up here every three secnds because for the last two weeks my job has entailed searching for repeated or similar questions in a 400+ page interview. hence, my interest in the possible existence of old-school, d-minor-centric harpsichords.

[ back to forum ] [quote]

Message 13/18 17-Jan-02 @ 10:34 PM - RE: is there a reason for this

monkeyboy

Posts: 135

Link?: Link

File?: No file

so the answer to my question is basically...because it is

i realise there isnt actually a note missing i was just curious as to why E sharp and F flat weren't represented on the keyboard as a black key like all of the other notes. but now i see as bedwyr explained that E sharp and F flat share the same keys as E and F...but why? i dont understand how these two semitones can share the same keys as two notes...i understand its cos its the c major scale etc...but there must be a reason for this setup...or maybe the guy who designed it just wanted to f@*k with peoples heads...

[ back to forum ] [quote]

Message 14/18 18-Jan-02 @ 01:52 PM - RE: is there a reason for this

bedwyr

Posts: 2890

Link?: Link

File?: No file

oh fuck.

look, it doesn't matter if it's c or z sharp. it's a major scale and all major scales have the tone tone semitone tone tone tone semitone sequence.

why do a keyboard based on a major scale? dunno.

maybe they were happier then. ;)

[ back to forum ] [quote]

Message 15/18 18-Jan-02 @ 03:33 PM - RE: is there a reason for this

knowa

Posts:

Link?: Link

File?: No file

actually, there is no "z sharp".

[ back to forum ] [quote]

Message 16/18 19-Jan-02 @ 09:01 AM - RE: is there a reason for this

bedwyr

Posts: 2890

Link?: Link

File?: No file

oh shit! now you tell me!

[ back to forum ] [quote]

Message 17/18 19-Jan-02 @ 03:46 PM - RE: is there a reason for this

sitar

Posts: 3872

Link?: Link

File?: No file

It is kinda interesting though. Whether intentionally done or not, when you go up to a keyboard you can immediately recognize where each note is because of the way the keys are grouped. If I walked up and saw a monotonous pattern of black/white/black/white all up and down, it might be hard to quickly pick out an F for example.

[ back to forum ] [quote]

Message 18/18 19-Jan-02 @ 09:17 PM - RE: is there a reason for this

Pongoid

Posts: 2003

Link?: Link

File?: No file

try playing a fretless instrument with no markings like and upright bass, or violin, and you'll see why things aren't arranged simply chromaticly on a piano. Some systems allow for properly arranged intonations as well, like proper harmonic series, vs. tempered scales. Nice stuff that.

Ape

[ back to forum ] [quote]

Pages: 1 2

There are 18 total messages for this topic

Reply to Thread

You need to register/login to use the forum.

Click here to Signup or Login !

[you'll be brought right back to this point after signing up]

Back to Forum