AP Music Theory Unit 1 - Pitch and Pitch Notation

Pitch

Indicate highness or lowness of sound

Middle C

pitch in middle rang; separates low and high pitches

Where is Middle C?

First ledger line below staff in treble clef, first ledger line above staff in bass clef

Notation

Use of signs and symbols to write musical pitches

Music Theory

Study of notation and applying it to an instrument or voice

Staff

Lines and spaces on which notes are placedHo

How many lines and spaces on staff?

5 lines, 4 spaces

Note

Marking representing musical pitch

Treble

High pitches, high tones

Clef

Sign placed at beginning of staff to indicate pitch

Note Names in Treble clef

Lines: EGBDF

Spaces: FACE

Notes in Bass Clef

Lines: GBDFA
Spaces: ACEG

Note Names in Alto clef

Lines: FACED
Spaces: ACEG

Melody

Pattern of single pitches; most memorable for audience

Treble Staff

Represents pitches above Middle C

Bass Staff

Represents pitches below Middle C

Alto Staff

Middle C is middle line on staff

Octave

measured from one pitch to the next of the same letter

Chord

2+ pitches played at once

Harmony

REsulting sound when 2+ tones played at same time

Consonance

Pleasant sounding chord

Dissonant

Unpleasant sounding chord

Half Step

smallest unit of measurement in music

Sharps (#)

Raise note a half step

Flats (b)

Lower note by a half step

Naturals

Cancel sharps or flats

Whole Step

Two half steps

Half Step From One White Key to Another White Key Occurs Where

From B to C and E to F

Diatonic Semitone

Noted with different letter name (e.g. Eb and D#)

Chromatic Semitone

Notated with same letter name (e.g. Cb and B Natural)