Okay, this is silly in a way, but my engineer husband asked me why notes have the names that they do. Why is C a C, etc? Naturally, a C vibrates at a different rate than a B or D, etc., but who gave them names?

Who decided on the major scale? Or, why is there no B# key, or a black key between every note on the piano? Get it?

If you have a real historical answer or website, pleas post.

The only one I know the answer to is why there is no B# key. It's the same thing as C...so why have 2 keys that make the same sound? Same with E#...it's just F.

I did know that, and it really wasn't the question. The questions are who named the notes as they are? When? and why? It's all based on mathematics also.