hmm

# means sharp, so A# is A sharp.

And ... while we're on the subject of sharps, there are also flats. Written in ASCII they look like this:

Ab
Cb
Db
Gb

You may already know "the rest of the story", but in case you (or other readers) don't:

A "sharp" (#) is one-half step higher in tone (one fret higher) than the named note.

A "flat" (symbolized on-screen with a lower-case "b" since the keyboard doesn't have the exact symbol) is one-half step lower in tone (one fret lower) than the named note.

Thus, A# (A sharp) is the same exact sound/tone as Bb (B flat). The key signature of a particular song will determine whether that tone is notated as A# or Bb.

Did I explain that correctly?

Margaret

Margaret...I think so :)

Also if you have troubles remembering if the # is Sharp and the b is Flat.

When I look at the A# notation, I think of the # as having teeth (Visualy)...sharp teeth.

I end up forgetting which side of a note sharp and flat lie. So the way I remember is an old Simpsons episode where Homer et al. name their band the "B Sharps" which would just be a C because it's only a half step from B to C.

As a school teacher, it's embarrassing and enlightening to see a lame joke do a better job than logic for me to learn something.

Your explanation is correct, Margaret. Good job.

As a school teacher, it's embarrassing and enlightening to see a lame joke do a better job than logic for me to learn something.
There is a learning system, where you remember things, by attaching them to silly (but rememberable) ideas. Associating the silly idea to the original idea to be learnt, results in a chain of thought, that brings up the real answer. You can also use this system to link any number of items together, such as a long shopping list, just by creating a story line that develops one silly idea into the next.
It's called the Peg System.
I learned all the counties in England, by size, in about 20 minutes (it was my first attempt at the system), but weeks later, I could still recite the list.

Yeah, and the interesting point is that the sharps/flats on a piano are all the black keys. Guitar is a little different because you can't easily identify a sharp or flat note on the fretboard because they all look the same! And if you notice on a piano, there is not a black key between every two white keys... that is because all the notes have a half-step between them except for B->C and E->F. So...

A A#(Bb) B C C#(Db) D D#(Eb) E F F#(Gb) G G#(Ab)

To learn the fretboard, you can checkout [/url]www.fretboardwarrior.com.

There is a learning system, where you remember things, by attaching them to silly (but rememberable) ideas. Associating the silly idea to the original idea to be learnt, results in a chain of thought, that brings up the real answer. You can also use this system to link any number of items together, such as a long shopping list, just by creating a story line that develops one silly idea into the next.
It's called the Peg System.
I'm never sure if I've spelled rhythm properly until I've said "Rolf Harris, you terribly hairy man" in my head. :mrgreen:

I learned all the counties in England, by size, in about 20 minutes (it was my first attempt at the system), but weeks later, I could still recite the list.

So, what are they?!

(And now back to the topic at hand)

So, what are they?!

(And now back to the topic at hand)

It was never any use, so I allowed my brain to use the space for something more useful, like music theory. 8) 8)