Frequently Asked Questions
Concerning the Forum
Where
can I find fingering charts on the web?
How do I play E#? Fb? B#? Cb? Double sharp? Double flat?
Natural sharp? Natural flat? Double natural?
Will you send me a fingering chart?
Will you send me free sheet music?
What
are some common misspellings that I should be aware of?
Which octave number corresponds to which octave?
What do "8va" and "15ma" mean?
Can I advertise on the Forum?
Where
can I find fingering charts on the web?
You can
start with the fingering charts in this site,
which are fairly comprehensive, span full ranges of all common band/orchestral
instruments and several others, and provide several types of fingerings
(from alternate fingerings to trill and tremolo fingerings and some
extended technique fingerings, like quarter tones and multiphonics).
If you don't find what you seek in this site, try the links
page or Google. [Work is under
way to compile and add to this site a brief bibliography of books,
publications, and web sites with fingering charts and technique.]
How
do I play E#? Fb? B#? Cb? Double sharp (x)? Double flat (bb)? Natural
sharp? Natural flat? Double natural?
- E#
is the same as F-natural.
- Fb
is the same as E-natural.
- B#
is the same as C-natural.
- Cb
is the same as B-natural.
- "Double
sharp" is symbolized by an "x" and means to raise
the note by two half steps (Cx = D, Dx = E, Ex = F#, Fx = G, Gx =
A, Ax = B, and Bx = C#).
- "Double
flat" is symbolized by "bb" (two flat signs) and
means to lower the note by two half steps (Cbb = Bb, Dbb = C, Ebb
= D, Fbb = Eb, Gbb = F, Abb = G, and Bbb = A).
- When
a singly sharp (or flat) note follows a doubly sharp
(or doubly flat) version of the same note letter, the single
sharp (flat) is often notated as a natural sign followed by a sharp
# (or flat b) sign. For example, if a Fx is followed by F#, the
F# may be notated as either F-natural-sharp or just F#. The extra
natural symbol is used as a reminder that one of the two sharps (or
flats) has been cancelled.
- If a
natural note follows a doubly sharp (or doubly flat) version of the
same note, a double natural may appear on the second note.
For example, if Ebb is followed by E-natural, then the E-natural may
be notated as either E-natural-natural or just E-natural.
Will
you send me a fingering chart?
No. You
can browse through the Fingering Charts
in this site.
Will
you send me free sheet music?
No. Search
the web for free sheet music.
What
are some common misspellings that I should be aware of?
- cite/site/sight:
You cite people, forum messages, books, or web sites
by noting them as a source of information. Mountain views can be spectacular
sights.
- definite,
definitely: these words definitely do not have an "a".
Think "finite."
- embouchure:
French. "the position and use of the lips, tongue, and teeth
in playing a wind instrument" (from www.m-w.com)
- finger,
fingering: neither has a "u"
- repertoire:
this spelling comes straight from French
- rhythm:
has two "h"s
- saxophone:
has only one "a" but two "o"s (not
saxaphone)
- tongue,
tonguing, tongued: the "u" is often omitted or misplaced.
- tremolo:
has two "o"s
Which
octave number corresponds to which octave?
The Woodwind
Fingering Guide uses the Acoustical Society of America Octave Designation
System, which calls middle C = C4. The Virginia
Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary shows this system (shaded yellow)
and other octave
numbering systems.
Each
octave's lowest note letter is C, and the highest is B. Thus the sequence
C, D, E, F, G, A, B fills an octave, and the next note (C) has the
next-highest octave number. For example, C4 is the note
just above B3. The octave numbers depend only on these
letters and not on accidentals (sharps, naturals, and flats) applied
to the letters. This matters for notes near the ends of the octaves.
For example, B#3 and C4 are both enharmonically
the same note: middle C.
What
do "8va" and "15ma" mean?
"8va"
is "octava", the Italian word for "eighth" or
"octave". This common abbreviation is placed above (or below)
notes to indicate that they should be played one octave higher (or
lower). Sometimes "8va basso" or "8vb"
is used in place of "8va" to mean "an octave below,"
leaving "8va" for "an octave above."
"15ma"
is "quindecima", the Italian word for "fifteenth"
or "two octaves". Similar to 8va but used very rarely, 15ma
is placed above (or below) notes to indicate that they should be played
two octaves higher (or lower).
Can
I advertise on the Forum?
No. The
Forum's purpose is primarily for informational discussion. Advertising
is strictly forbidden.
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