Terminology

For obvious reasons, more Americans than Brits follow my lessons. So after numerous emails asking me what I mean by a crotchet, I’ve mended my ways and now refer to quarter notes. This also means that swing quavers are now swing eights. With apologies to my British readers I’ll also be using the following terms, which appear in the left-hand column.

Intervals

USA / UK

half step / semitone

whole step / tone

Note names

USA / UK

whole note / semibreve

half note / minim

quarter note / crotchet

eighth note / quaver

However, as a token act of rebellion, I’ll continue to speak of key centres rather than centers.