Note in an octave

[Clyde Hollinger]

Jim,

It's pretty obvious to me that your answer was wrong, but the question is, what
would be right?  The question is strange, maybe even stupid.  You could ask any
number of music theorists this question, and most likely they would ask what
you mean or want further clarification before responding.

There is what is called the whole tone scale, which would indeed have six whole
steps; for instance, C, D, E, F#, G#, A#, then back to C.  So I suppose six is
the correct answer, but the question still seems odd to me.

Clyde Hollinger, M.M. in Music Education

harvey wrote:

> #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 Harvey, RPT
> Greenwood, SC
> harvey@greenwood.net
> ________________________
>  -- someone who's been in the field too long.