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I think I got myself mixed up. A double sharp raises a note one whole step. But what if the piece is in a key where the note already sharped. For example F double sharp in the key of C# minor-- is the F then played as a G or as a G sharp?

Thank you!

Any accidental marked on a note is always taken literally as it stands, and not added on to what the key signature already said. So F double sharp is always played on the G key regardless of anything else.

Thank you!

Which is one thing that frustrates me to no end when reading music. If they have to double sharp an F to be played on the G, why didnt they write it as a G?

Most likely because G is sharp in the key signature.

The G was taken (usually).

Edit: StudioJoe explains it much better

Ha-ha, Canonie, both our posts are time marked at 6:14 AM. I just clicked the reply button a few millisecs. before you.

Thanks for the plug in yur edit.

You know, I understand the theory, that certain notes don't exist in certain keys.

However, while reading along and playing, it is much easier for me to hit G-natural (g note with a natural) than F ##. I write in a big fat "G" by the note. Same for B# = C.

So can anyone guess what I'm working on, key of C# minor with a lot of f double sharps and b#'s in it? One of those famous pieces that is easy to play adequately and hard to play really beautifully...

The only thing I could think of is Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C# minor ... but if it's that you must be a much better player than me because "easy to play ..."?!

Chopin's posthumous nocturne?

I don't know you. But let's imagine that your name is George. (Go with me here for a second.)

If I'm writing a paper and I spell your name Jorj, and then I pay you to edit the paper, will you correct the spelling of your name, or not? Why?

Let's just imagine that what you wrote makes any sense.

I think this is an excellent response.

my stick with it, think of it as F double sharp, B sharp or whatever, and eventually it becomes easier because it begins to look and sound right.
Oh and good luck with Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, First Movement

I'm feeling confident

It must be me, then, who is double-flat.

You guessed it! I recently heard a little kid play it at a recital, technically well but not really musically. I thought that if she could play it I could probably learn it. Always thought it was out of my league but once I looked at it I realized I could do it. Now I'm obsessed (just a few days into it at this point... have a lesson tomorrow).

some "simplified" music has the F## made into G, but using F## instead of G conveys additional info to the musician---the notes are be part of a scale or chord of a given key. That comes under, as a conductor way back in HS told the kids, "reading music, not just notes" (though it took a while to understand what he meant by that).

Haha, I knew it! That was one of the first pieces I was addicted to when I took up piano as an adult. I'd "played" the first page as a teen, so re-found the music, bought the cheap DP and off I went. Fortunately my teacher had me learning lots of grade one and two pieces - to learn how piano is Actually played. But he also patiently took me through the moonlight first for my pleasure.

It's an addicting piece. By the second line it's really beautiful and dramatic. I did a rough sight read through it pretty easily but of course balancing the voices is a significant challenge (at least for me). I can't wait to hear what my teacher has to say tomorrow, I'm sure he'll chop me down a little -- then rebuild ...