if the song is in C# minor, there's an x before an F note, how to play that note? Thanks?

Question

In Beethoven's Op 27 no. 2 (Moonlight sonata), there are some "x" before an F note. I'm learning it without my teacher, so any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Answer 1

It's a double sharp, which means basically adding another half step to an already sharped note, another half step up for sharps, half step down for double flat. Since F is already sharp in the key of C# minor, then you would add another half step to F#, which would be G-natural.

Answer 2

I found the passage which Resolution is talking about. It's on measure 34 in the first movement.

Some of you may wonder, "If Beethoven wanted a G, why didn't he just WRITE a G?" It is because this is a diminished seventh chord leading to a G# seventh chord in the next measure. So we are temporarily in the key of G#. You can't have two successive notes with the same letter name in a scale, so the G natural becomes an F double-sharp.

That's okay, Roger. I think you're thinking about 8va's instead of x's.

Answer 3

The x means it's a double sharp- it's raised two 1/2 steps, or 1 whole step. If it's before an f, then play g on the piano.

Answer 4

The "x" before the F is a double sharp. It raises the F two semi-tones, making it the equivelant of a G.

Answer 5

x means double sharp. So it's played as a G

Answer 6

Dr V is right..

it's a double sharp

Answer 7

An "x" is a double sharp, so the note is F-double-sharp -- same as a "G".

Answer 8

x is also known as a double sharp. all you do is raise the note two half steps or one whole step. so an F double sharp or xF would be played as G.


good luck on that piece, it's hard :-D

Answer 9

omg. i've been trying to figure that out because i am playin the same song and trying to teach my self. thanks for asking that question

Answer 10

i think that is played an octave higher on that note.

or maybe DrV right.