This topic came up in another forum and various opinions arose regarding the why and wherefore, but thus far no definative answer.

Q: Why is Concert C and not A?

Here is how the original question was asked:



As an engineer, if I were going to make the most basic scale (i.e., the one with no sharps and flats) the easiest to understand, I would have started with A, as follows:

Order_ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Name_ A B C D E F G
W or B W W W W W W W

(W or B refering to the color of the piano key)

Instead, we have:

Order_ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Name_ C D E F G A B
W or B W W W W W W W

I realized lately that when transposing, the wrap around from G to A always slows me down and I was just wondering why it is in the middle of the scale, not the end.

Naming is sometimes arbitrary, but becomes a legacy that has meaning. Does anyone know why western music selected Concert C as the key described with no sharps and flats? Was it by accident, or is there a music theory reason for it?

Dang....This is addicting.

http://www.reverbnation.com/roberttrippmusic