Notes in Octave

[Thomas D. Seay, III]

>#2 daughter just asked me, "Dad, how many whole tones are in an octave"?
>
>I could have belabored the point, based on 12-tone music, etc. However, I
>said "Eight, like 'octo' from the Latin, etc. Why do you ask?"
>
>She had just been watching the 'Who wants to be a millionaire" program, and
>this was one of the questions. The contestant answered "Eight"... bzzzt.
>
>The "correct" response was that there are twelve half-tones in an octave,
>and SIX whole tones. The contestant missed the question by answering eight.
>
>So, in spite of all my muzical educashun, I must have been sick that day.
>Would someone 'splain this to me?

Jim,

C to D (1), D to E (2), E to F# (3), F# to G# (4), G# to A# (5), A# 
or Bb to C (6).

Clear as mud, right?

Regards,

Tom



Tom Seay
School of Music
The University of Texas at Austin
mailto:t.seay@mail.utexas.edu