Using the keyboard diagram as reference start from the key marked "middle C", and "walk up" the key's (to the right), touching every key, black and white, counting as you go.

If you use the "middle C" as number 1, when you have counted to thirteen (13), you will be back at the note C, one octave above "middle C".

From any note to the same note thirteen half-steps up or down, (right or left), is an octave. All the notes on the keyboard are a half-step apart even if there is no black or accidental key between them.

Between the notes E and F, B and C, no tone could be found that could be inserted in the middle of the two set's of note's, so these "natural's", with no "accidental's" in-between them, are considered a half-step apart.

Having interval's behind us, let's see what is sharp and what is not. If a note is "sharp", you will see the character #, and if it is flat it will have the character b after it.

Using the keyboard diagram, locate the "middle C" note again on the keyboard diagram.

These white keys, as you remember, are called "natural's".

When a natural note is made sharp, it is considered "raised" a half-step. Put your finger on the "D" note, then touch(to the right) the first black key you come to.

This is "raising" the tone a half- step to a D#.