We normally think of the musical scale going from A to G (or from C to C, whether or not they’re shining). When we add the flats and sharps, that accounts for all the notes in our Western well-tempered tonality. But did you know that other letters have been used besides A-G?
In Europe, the letter H is often used instead of B. Since B♭ is used more commonly than B, when they say ‘B’ they mean ‘B-flat.’ H, the next available letter, is then used to designate the regular B.
When some composers have wanted to write a piece based on a theme of someone’s name that didn’t include just the letters A-G (or H), sometimes they’ve recycled through the available letters again, so H=A, I=B, J=C, K=D, L=E, M=F, N=G, O=A, and so on.
Don’t even get me started on solfege!
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