I have been teaching myself to play the piano through videos and self teaching books. For five months now this has been going on and I believe i have gotten quite good. I can play multiple Chopin pieces, however there is a note that is confusing me and I can't seem to get an answer anywhere. I would like to know what a little "x" to the left of a note means. It is found in Chopin's Valse Op. 64 No. 2 and many others. Please respond!

Thanks............Alan

-- Alan Chavira (xxchscrazyguyxx@aol.com), July 03, 2001

Answers

Alan,

An "x" to the left of a note means that a note which is already sharped is sharped a further semitone.

For example, if in the key signature all C's are sharped then a particular C in the score with a "x" to the left of it means that is sharped a further semitone.

C the white key C# the next black key Cx the next white key (the D key)

Note that the change only lasts for that bar.

Hope this helps

Mark

-- Mark McKenzie (maarrk@hotkey.net.au), July 03, 2001.

Alan,

p.s.

Note how in bars 14 and 15 of Chopin's Valse Op. 64 No 2 the X on the F of bar 14 is reverted to a sharp by putting a natural sign then a sharp sign in front of the same F which occurs in bar 15. Not sure if necessary but done to remove all ambiguity.

Mark

-- Mark McKenzie (maark@hotkey.net.au), July 03, 2001.