Double Sharp - I dont understand it?

Question

Okay. I obviously understand it raises the pitch by 2 half steps.

But i dont understand how its used with the key signature.

Say you have 4 sharps in the key signature. Then you see a g written in the music and it has the double sharp sign next to it. Do you play an a sharp or an a natural?

Another question. If the 'g' is double sharped does it stay double sharped through the whole measure?

Answer 1

The double sharp is an accidental. Accidentals ignore the key signature.

An accidental remains  in effect to the end of the measure, or until the note is re marked, which ever comes first.

Answer 2

Four sharps in the key signature means you are most likely in E major, or C# minor. which means that F C G D are all sharped. When you see the Gx (G double sharp) you play an A, but you must not refer to it as an A. Its all technicalities. G double sharp is enharmonically equal to A natural. Enharmonically means the same pitch but are represented by different letter names and accidentals. like Ab=G#.

Basically..it all comes back to Diatonics. And I am not sure what you know about music theory. wikipedia diatonics. If you don't understand theory well on your own, or don't care to, then treat your Double sharps as "things that just are". If you think you may understand some theory look up diatonic, and all of your questions will be answered.

Answer 3

A double sharp indicates that you are to raise the note two half steps, this means go up on the guitar two frets !!!!!!!

If you see a double flat it means to lower a note two half steps. Hope that this helps you to understand this better.

Answer 4

If you had 5 sharps in the key signature, the 5th is A sharp.  If you are to play an A and then an A sharp in the same bar (measure), the first note is often written as a G sharp.  It simplifies the number of accidentals used, even if you find it confusing at first.

G double sharp is A natural, and that continues for the rest of the bar (measure).  If you have a G in the following bar you are back to the instructions of the key signature  -  G sharp, in your example of 4 sharps.

Answer 5

Yes. If it says double sharp all notes in that key are double sharp. The reason they put the double sharps is because its not something that is played all the time. Sort of a once in a while thing. It only last one measure then after it goes back to what it was. Hope this helps.