�
Notation
means
the way the music is written and expressed on paper. The Monks of Medieval
times were the first to write down sounds and indicate their pitch by using
horizontal lines. At first, a single line was used but later more lines were
added so that sometimes there was a single stave
of four, five, six, or even eight lines.
�
Eventually
the five line stave was agreed to
be the most useful and the easiest to read. The different notes are placed on
the lines or in the spaces between them. The higher a note�s position on the
stave the higher its pitch.
Lines used out with the stave are known as ledger
lines.
To write notes higher or lower in pitch than on the stave, additional short
lines (leger lines)
are added above and below the stave.
Guido D'Arezzo is attributed with the invention of Notation as we know it.
�
To
name the notes, the first seven letters of the alphabet are used: A
B C D E F G. After G, we begin
again with A. To know the precise pitch
of any note of these notes you need to look at the CLEF.
�
The
Treble Clef is used to show the pitch of notes above Middle C.
It is sometimes called the G Clef.
The treble circles around the
second line of the stave fixing
this line as the note G.
(Instruments that use this clef are
usually of high pitch. E.g. Flute,
Trumpet, Violin.)
�
The
Bass Clef is used to show the pitch
of notes lying below Middle C. This
is sometimes called the F Clef. The
two dots are placed one on each side of the fourth line of the stave
fixing this line as the note F.
(Instruments that use this clef are
usually of low pitch. E.g. Cello,
Bassoon, Tuba.)
��
There is a third kind of clef called
the C Clef. Nowadays this clef may
be positioned on the third or fourth lines of the stave. In either position, the line on which the clef
now sits is fixed as Middle C.
���� These
are important basics and you must try to learn them.
E-mail us with your theory thoughts.
Thank you for calling. Please come back and visit us soon.
�
�
For free templates.