Musical notes and their names

There are in total twelve tones (or notes), but at the same time seventeen note names. The reason behind this is that five of the tones, so-called enharmonic notes, can be referred to two different names.

List of all the notes

C# and Db, D# and Eb, F# and Gb, G# and Ab, A# and Bb are actually the same notes. The names differ depending on the musical context. Read more about enharmonic notes.

The picture below explains the relationship between the notes on a keyboard and where each note belongs.
Tones on keyboard with names
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Short explanation of every tone

C: is played on the white key on the keyboard, positioned before the two following black keys. The note is repeated on several octaves (the interval between two notes of the same kind); therefore you can play C on many keys – how many depends on the size of the keyboard. The C note can also be written in its enharmonic version B#.

The note is preceded by B and followed by C# / Db on the keyboard. A whole step up the would lead to the D note.

C# / Db: these are actually the same notes, but are named differently depending on the musical context. If the C is raised one half-tone it should be referred to as C# and if the D is lowered one half-tone it should be referred to as Db.

D: is played on the white key on the keyboard positioned between the pair of two black keys. The note is repeated on several octaves; therefore you can play D on many keys on the piano.

The note is preceded by C# / Db and followed by D# / Eb on the keyboard. A whole step up would lead to the E note.

D# / Eb: these are the same notes and named differently depending on the musical context. If the D is raised one half-tone it should be referred to as D# and if the E is lowered one half-tone it should be referred to as Eb.

E: is played on the white key on the keyboard positioned after the pair of two black keys. The note is repeated on several octaves; therefore you can play E on many keys on the piano. The E note can also be written in its enharmonic version Fb.

The note is preceded by D# / Eb and followed by F on the keyboard. A whole step up would lead to the F# note.

F: is played on the white key on the keyboard positioned before the three following black keys. The note is repeated on several octaves; therefore you can play F on many keys on the piano. The F note can also be written in its enharmonic version E#.

The note is preceded by E and followed by F# / Gb on the keyboard. A whole step up would lead to the G note.

F# / Gb: these are the same notes and named differently depending on the musical context. If the F is raised one half-tone it should be referred to as F# and if the G is lowered one half-tone it should be referred to as Gb.

G: is played on the white key on the keyboard positioned between the first and second of three black keys. The note is repeated on several octaves; therefore you can play G on many keys on the piano.

The note is preceded by F# / Gb and followed by G# / Ab on the keyboard. A whole step up would lead to the A note.

G# / Ab: these are the same notes and named differently depending on the musical context. If the G is raised one half-tone it should be referred to as G# and if the A is lowered one half-tone it should be referred to as Ab.

A: is played on the white key on the keyboard positioned between the second and third of three black keys. The note is repeated on several octaves; therefore you can play A on many keys on the piano.

The note is preceded by G# / Ab and followed by A# / Bb on the keyboard. A whole step up would lead to the B note.

A# / Bb: these are the same notes and named differently depending on the musical context. If the A is raised one half-tone it should be referred to as A# and if the B is lowered one half-tone it should be referred to as Bb.

B: is played on the white key on the keyboard positioned after the group of three black keys. The note is repeated on several octaves; therefore you can play B on many keys on the piano. The B note can also be written in its enharmonic version Cb.

The note is preceded by A# / Bb and followed by C on the keyboard. A whole step up would lead to the C# note.

Musical notes on different instruments

You may change instrument, but you would still use the same note. At least some of them – numerous instruments do not include all notes. A harmonica, for example, are in some cases tuned in a specific key and, in addition, does only include notes of a diatonic scale.

With instruments such as piano or guitar, on the other hand, you can play all notes chromatically (i.e. in succession), if you wish.

The cultural influence

Western music is dictated of a tradition with 12 different tones. But this is due to the cultural influence and not a necessity. In Arabic music there are 17 (or 24) notes and in Indian music there are even more depending on how tones are defined.