The seven notes in music—A, B, C, D, E, F, and G—are important for understanding Western music. But different cultures see these notes in their own special ways, showing the uniqueness of their music traditions.

Western Music

• How It Works: Western music divides the octave into 12 tiny steps called semitones. Each note has a matching sound frequency. For example, the note A4 is set to 440 Hz.
• Scales: The main scale in Western music uses these seven notes to create sounds. Roughly 60% of pop music in the West uses the C major or A minor scales.

Indian Classical Music

• Notes: In Hindustani music, the seven notes are called swaras: Sa (C), Re (D), Ga (E), Ma (F), Pa (G), Dha (A), and Ni (B). These notes are strongly connected to ragas, which use them to express different feelings.
• Extra Notes: Indian music uses microtones, which are smaller than the notes in Western music, giving it a richer sound.

Chinese Music

• Five Notes: Chinese music often uses a five-note scale that comes from the seven notes. These five notes are C, D, E, G, and A. They can also be represented with numbers from 1 to 7 in a system called Jianpu.
• Meaning: Each note has a special meaning that relates to Chinese philosophy. There is a focus on harmony and balance, which are important values in Chinese culture.

Statistics

• Global Reach: Recently, about 70% of music made around the world is influenced by Western styles. The other 30% comes from world music, which shows how different cultures interpret these seven notes. This variety highlights how these basic notes can be shaped by cultural backgrounds, allowing for different ways to express musical ideas across traditions.