Lesson 1
Pitch Notation

Practice Drills
piano keyboard
symbols
noteNamesPDF

Assignments

WA1

 

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Summary Table: Lesson 1

music alphabet

A B C D E F G

piano keyboard
staff

5-line, 4-space grid used to notate musical pitch

clef

Gives specific pitch names to each line and space of staff

treble clef

Denotes relatively high pitches
(above middle C)

bass clef

Denotes relatively low pitches
(below middle C)

grand staff

Treble and bass clef joined by a bracket or brace

C clef

Denotes location of middle C

octave

The next higher or lower pitch with the same letter name

ledger lines

Short lines added above or below the staff to extend its range

8va Indicates the written pitch should be played one octave higher or lower
half step

Smallest interval on piano keyboard (the distance between adjacent keys)

whole step

Equivalent of two half steps (the distance between two keys with one key intervening)

accidentals

Symbols used to alter pitch

sharp

Raises the pitch by one half step

flat

Lowers the pitch by one half step

natural

Negates a previous accidental

double sharp Raises the pitch one whole step
double flat Lowers the pitch one whole step
enharmonics

Pitches that sound the same but are named and notated differently

dynamics Loudness or softness of musical sound
timbre

Individual quality of a sound (tone color)