why are there no Fb, E#, B#, Cb notes?

[JayDee]

Ok. The notes you claim don't exist actually do! Flat signs lower a note a semitone, and sharp signs raise them a semitone. So Fb is the same sound as an E, E# is the same sound as an F; B# is the same sound as C and Cb is the same sound as B. With me so far?

Contrary to what you have put, therefore, Fb does NOT = E#!! A semitone is actually a mathematically measurable difference in the sound frequency of any given notes. E is the same "distance" away in terms of sound/frequency from F as it is from D#/Eb. So, you can't create a tone between all of the notes which have just letter names, as the keyboard has been layed out in such a way as to make this impossible. As E and F are already only a semitone apart, what do you propose putting in between them?


So, on a keyboard, where there appear to be "missing" black notes, there aren't. This is just to do with the layout that was designed to make the instrument easier to play in the first place!


Hmm, what else? Oh yeah - just to confuse the issue, sounds do exist between the twelve semitones you get on a standard keyboard, they are just not used in western musical traditions. Indian music, for example, uses "microtones", which are half a semitone away from each other. The human voice is capable of singing in this way.

Perhaps I've helped, perhaps I've confused you even more. If you want me to clarify, post a comment and I can come back and edit my answer.