The note 'H' exists! What musical notes are called in Europe

Not every country labels musical notes in the same way. In German-speaking countries, Scandinavia and many slavic countries the note between 'A' and 'C' is called 'H' instead of 'B'. But what's the origin of the note 'H'? To find out, we have to go all the way back to the Middle Ages ...
Felix Rogge (idea, script, graphics, voice)
Jem Bosatta (copy editor)
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/ felixroggemusic
Graphics used in this video:
pixabay.com/​ - free commercial use
de.freepik.com/vektoren/musik​ - Musik Vektor erstellt von macrovector
Background music:
"Castles in the Sky" - Felix Rogge
"Rising to the Heights" - Felix Rogge
"Concerto grosso in D major Op. 3, No. 6" - G. F. Händel
Sources:
cc0.oer-musik.de/apm14240-36/
#musictheory #notes #history

[@hni7458]

!!! It did, answered questions. Seldom have eight minutes been so well spent, out here on the bleary YT at that. Well done! A life-long query answered. a-b-c is so simple, but I've never got it into me confused head, and now I have water on my mill. Yes, and no BACH either, as pointed out below. So stick to tradition lads and lasses -- no darn streamlining!

[@felixroggemusic]

Thank you very much! 😀

[@hni7458]

@@felixroggemusic A question Felix: Does the moll/dur concept - ie moll being soft - originate from the same historical source, with moll/minor pertaining to the initial minor third? You know, in Swedish, surely in joint Scandinavian as well, we say dur, moll, ters, kvart, kvint etc, but mostly ppl have gone over to b/bess, this especially at the academies as I understand.

[@felixroggemusic]

@@hni7458 Hi! I don't know, if I got your question right, but - as far as I know - it was long and gradual process from B-durum/B-molle to the Dur/Moll concept. For example, in medieval Pythagorean tuning, there is no such term as "major third", because at that time, the Dur/Moll concept hasn't been discovered yet. A "major third" is instead called "ditonus", which means "twotone".

[@hni7458]

@@felixroggemusic Thank you kindly dear Felix!

[@flouisbailey]

Play, Free Byrd!

[@trashbirdie]

In school I was taught the german system, but when I started to become interested in music theory I switched to the english one, much more practical for learning and interacting with other musicians

[@NuisanceMan]

The German system would have made sense if it just went from B to H, with B replacing A. But having the chromatic sequence A-B-H-C is just confusing -- at least, if you know the alphabet!

[@jacksonvader6381]

Hi! Thanks for the video, it´s been really helpfull. In Spain we use the Do, Re, Mi sistem; but when we have a G sharp we call it "Sol sostenido", and a G flat is "Sol bemol" so I believe it changes between countries. Thanks again for the video!! 🙂

[@rafakowalczyk5228]

In Poland normally we use either the German system with H or the solmization as in the romance countries. If nothing changed the anglosaxon meaning of B isn't used in the scholar system at all.

[@David-hs6je]

On my knowledge DO Re Mi system is an Italian one and letter system notes is first used by German. This is referring to renaissance age. As per Albania, question marked on the map, Do Re Mi system was the one used in academic and education institution. I'm talking about 1995 when I was attending a high school of arts. I don't think it is changed, but I'm not sure.

[@souldreamer9056]

In Sweden we have more or less switched from H to B, for 90% of cases. Thank goodness. The H system is so illogical. As a teen in the 90 half my teachers (the older half) would use H while the younger ones used B.

[@felixroggemusic]

Thanks for your comment!

[@TerminatorZXY]

In Serbia we use both the German and the Romance system, but the German is used more. But from my experience, I only saw the romance system get used in elementary school and for singers.

[@felixroggemusic]

Thanks for your feedback! 😀

[@TerminatorZXY]

@@felixroggemusic Also considering all learning media that I use online is American, this has always confused me. I had to get used to saying "H string" (5 string bass) when speaking my native tongue. There isn't even much info online since I didn't know exactly what to look up, so I'd often wonder "what other differences are there?". It wasn't until a friend told me "Oh, the difference is that Americans will use B instead of H, and "Bes" instead of B!", I understood it since then but nobody explained it why it is like that until I saw this video. Thanks!

[@NuisanceMan]

Elementary school students... singers... what's the diff?

[@TerminatorZXY]

@@NuisanceMan One are elementary school students and others are singers.

[@daviddiamond2415]

Enlightening! I knew that the h-note notation existed, but I did not know anything about it. Nor had I any idea how widespread non-western music notation was. The history is fascinating. It sheds light not only on notation, put on how various types of international music and ancient music came into being.

[@Marjanx]

In Serbia we use solmisation and aplhabet version with H

[@davidperry4013]

I love the CDEFGAB note system. I love F# Major. It’s a hard key signature but has such a beautiful sound to it.

[@tparadox88]

Glad to find your video! As someone from the US (a place where we don't rub shoulders with other cultures enough), I just assumed the English system was universal for twelve tone music until I started reading the subtitles we put on for my wife whose first language is Spanish and saw specific tones named by the Do Re Mi system, which I only ever knew as relative names of intervals where Do is the center of whatever key we're in. (Like C for the key of C). This explained how it all works perfectly except for why two of the lettered notes are half tones, which is beyond the scope here but something I've always wondered about the English system but not hard enough to look up.

[@felixroggemusic]

Thanks for your feedback! 😊

[@lokmanmerican6889]

Very useful video! Thanks for the clear explanation.

[@felixroggemusic]

Thank you! 😌

[@kidspaws4acause]

This is so educational, I have come back to this video time and time again every time I forget why we have different names for the scale. So well explained!!

[@felixroggemusic]

Thank you so much! :-)

[@musictheorypodcast9946]

Well done! Simple, clear, accurate!

[@felixroggemusic]

Thanks a lot! 😀

[@robertobordogna284]

very comprehensive & short ! bravo

[@felixroggemusic]

Thank You! :)

[@HappyOrganMan]

Great explanations. Thanks!

[@felixroggemusic]

Thanks for your feedback! 😇

[@adrianomaganini]

In Brazil we use a mixed (very confusing) form, that is, you write using the letters system (ABCDEFG) but when you read the letter you "convert" to the corresponding note in the "Do Re mi" system". For instance, you write a "C" but you read as a "Dó". To learn music theory is two times harder !

[@felixroggemusic]

Thanks for your valuable additions!

[@peterfecht2919]

as a bloody German I must say that I prefer the English system, sounding more logical.

[@motorradtyp]

As a bloody German, you already know that Germany will be a bloody puppet state of the US anyway, so you may as well absorb everything English now. Both British and American.

[@peterfecht2919]

@@motorradtyp Sorry, my friend. I've just made a joke about myself and my fellow countrymen, but your reply is a kind offending.

[@motorradtyp]

@@peterfecht2919 Are you offended because it’s true?

[@leaccordion]

As a bloody Canadian I agree.

[@devinroark4640]

Although remarkably the German system is the most singable of standardized systems of music syllabication. To get one syllable for each of the twelve tones in any other system you have to make something up that will never be accepted and will always be your own system of solfege, or just literally sing out "b flat" or "si bémol". If only the Germans had done away with the H/B nonsense and just called b natural "B" and b flat "Bes" (or H and Hes if you want to hold onto a little bit of tradition) we'd all be using the German system, as it's otherwise remarkably consistent and easy to sing

[@peterreimerMannaufderBank]

Hi Felix, richtig gut gemacht. Tolle Visualisierungen und die Geschichte vom falsch abschreibenden Mönch ins Reich der modernen Sagen verbannt. Auf meinem Unterrichtskanal habe ich das Thema auch aufgegriffen, bin in die frühe Musikgeschichte nicht so tief eingestiegen (was dir toll gelungen ist!) und habe nach den heutigen Bezügen gesucht im Sinne von: wo spielen die Systeme ABC und AHC in der Praxis eine Rolle. Freue mich, wenn du mal vorbeischaust unter "Gitarrenvideokurse" - auf dem Kanal findest du das Video H oder B. Viele Grüße, Peter

[@felixroggemusic]

Hallo Peter, vielen Dank für dein liebes Feedback! 😀 Ich werde auf jeden Fall auf deinem Kanal vorbeischauen! 🙃

[@Massigangster]

nice explanation!

[@felixroggemusic]

Thanks! 🙌🏼

[@bmulato5921]

Genial ❤

[@ThatEmilie]

Actually, we use names Hes AND B for B-flat, not only B

[@felixroggemusic]

Thanks for your feedback! I've actually never heard someone say "Hes" to a B-flat. And I've been making music (in Germany) for 20 years. Maybe some people use this term, but I'm sure its not the "official" term that you would find in the literature.

[@aagevaksdal]

Great explanation! Thanks. This plugged a few holes in my knowledge. I grew up with the German system, but use mainly the English system due to my love of jazz. Still I would argue that the English system is better teaching new music students. Like it or not, English is the international language for interacting with the world. Thanks again!

[@felixroggemusic]

Thanks for your feedback! 😀

[@lv16jismij]

Yes, I even mentioned that H does exist during my music theory to my professor, which none of the people knew in America, (because my piano book titles were written in German, and I learned)

[@profet1385]

In Poland at schools we're taught H, but most people I know who learn music either by themselves or later in life choose English notation. Seems less unnecessarily complex and confusing.

[@Kazarijyanainoyonamidawa]

Actually in the netherlands it is more of a mix of the “german system” and the “english system” Keeping the B but still using the Es & Is. example: C Cis(Des) D Es(Dis) F Fis(Ges) Etc…

[@Kazarijyanainoyonamidawa]

Also the words for, sharp and flat are: Kruis(cross) And Mol(molle?)

[@sergeantjadonsoriginalchan3063]

i was told by my old oboe teacher she thinks germans made h on purpoise so they could spell bach in music could be just a theory.

[@AlikPal]

In Ukraine we use the solmization for classical music/jazz and the German system for chords in modern music, songs etc.

[@felixroggemusic]

Thanks for your feedback! 🙌

[@madonnacoronado13]

Can you make the other German words in English, please? Thank you

[@felixroggemusic]

You mean the other „videos“?

[@JK-cs1be]

Reddit brought me here and iam not musical thank you for the information

[@cachelesssociety5187]

04:28 "Independent voices....haven't been discovered here yet". I think I know what you mean, but I prefer to think of it as "...were not permitted or accepted yet..." But you can use "discovered" to mean "found to be good or desirable and I think that's what you're saying, right? Or maybe its just that there's not evidence to suggest that people were thinking about it, even though to me using common sense I can imagine that someone must have been thinking about it.

[@felixroggemusic]

Yes, that's what I was trying to say! 👈 Thanks for your comment! 🙏

[@DarkoTuka]

Bosnia and Herzegowina uses solmisation and alphabet system with H

[@felixroggemusic]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@Ch29]

Romance one in Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 (Ok you won you made me comment)

[@felixroggemusic]

Thanks for your feedback! 😀

[@pinkponyofprey1965]

Finally a FULL explanation from someone who knows what he's talking about !!! I've seen countless explanations starting somewhere in the middle and kind of drifted to one edge or the other without having any real grasp of the subject or interest in setting the record straight. OF COURSE ... they ran into problems with fourths and fifths in the middle ages and had to adjust. The only niggle is that the church didn't ban the tritonus even if not everybody loved it back then. Take a look at what mr Adam Neely has to say about it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aX7LqHqkppmBb9E&ab_channel=AdamNeely

[@felixroggemusic]

Hi PinkPonyOfPrey! Thanks for your nice feedback! 😀 Yes, I know the Adam Neely video! 🙈 It was released after I uploaded my video... My mistake!

[@grzegorzbrzeczyszczykiewic279]

Sharp # Flat b Natural '=, B molle `b B durum _h,_

[@Just_lazuli]

Actually flat (Or bemol) is this symbol *"♭"* and natural (or becuadro) is this symbol *"♮"*

[@rudigerk]

Without H no B-A-C-H, thank God we made that Mistake! For me as a German, calling H as B sounds wrong, there are Voices calling for a Reform, but i am strictly against it! Not everything has to be globally streamlined.

[@felixroggemusic]

True 😉 I tend to use the English note labels and chord symbols. But I‘m a Pop and Jazz musician - and these genres originated from America & the UK for the most part. To me it makes no sense to use the German labels here. As well as it makes no sense to rename classicals pieces from „H-Moll-Messe“ to „B-Moll-Messe“ or something like that. A-B-C for Pop, A-H-C for classical music 😉 Bilingualily 🙌🏼

[@profet1385]

Why are you against it?

[@sebastianag2966]

Bruh this is so dumb. It's just as dumb as when I hear Americans not wanting to adopt the metric system.

[@paweopalczewski6533]

I’d say that history kind of complicated the system. I understand BACH but man, let’s change it to make it more simple for future generations. Why to keep something complicated only for a historical whim?

[@Terpsichorean-oj8vc]

@@paweopalczewski6533 Oh c'mon it's not that hard. it's just one tiny difference.

[@greisimani975]

Albania and Kosovo use the Romance System

[@felixroggemusic]

Thanks for your feedback! 😀

[@patricklange8970]

5:50 oh not again...THIS ISN'T TRUE

[@felixroggemusic]

Yes, you‘re absolutely right! I know by now (Thanks, Adam Neely) 😉 Anyway, the tritone was considered a harsh dissonace - we are talking about the year 1000. So the explanation still works 😬

[@patricklange8970]

@@felixroggemusic good video still!

[@felixroggemusic]

@@patricklange8970 Thank you :)

[@user-bt8vb1kb2i]

Die Niederländer sagen zu unserem deutschen b bes (und zum h ebenfalls b), aber die anderen Töne sind wie bei uns, also auch cis/des, dis/es usw.

[@TheLizItIs]

H is 8th letter of English alphabet. B is 2 8+2=1 makes sense

[@felixroggemusic]

Makes sense to me! 🤣

[@TheLizItIs]

@@felixroggemusic haha exactly!

[@sebastianag2966]

I was taught H when I was a kid in Norway and fuck that. Let's adopt the English way.

[@motorradtyp]

Might as well, seeing as you’re using English anyway. Can we get rid of Norwegian too whilst we’re doing that?

[@sebastianag2966]

@@motorradtyp You ok?

[@motorradtyp]

@@sebastianag2966 Of course

[@tomasbud7746]

I am Czech and I use "B". The whole ""H" thing is bullshit. It makes no logical sense. Matter of fact everyone in the band that I play in also uses " B". The Germans screwed this up completely and I have no intention of following their mistakes even if it has been done for hundreds of years. We play rock/pop which is pretty much an Anglo-American invention ...... so why not follow how they do things and on top of that, just using the alphabet (ABCDEFG) makes sense and is logical ..... and not using this stupidity called "H" and a one off "A" sharp being called a "B" makes absolutely no sense.

[@hqsound5582]

Why 2 names for the the same note/key, stupid design. Get rid of the flat ones.

[@Terpsichorean-oj8vc]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYvJpaV3YsZ2l5Ysi=QAWOese_-CE6bPBL

[@thetempleoflove6966]

If you knew something more about music theory and harmony, you'd know that your statement doesn't make sense. "I have one eye" - why you spell differently those two words that sound the same? (I and eye).Stupid design. Let's get rid of the "eye" word. Should have been "I have one I" Right?