Study Notes on Elements of Pitch
Chapter One: Elements of Pitch
Pitch in Music
- Definition of Pitch
- Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of a sound.
- Naming Pitches
- Pitches are named using the first seven letters of the alphabet: A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.
- Relationship to Keyboard
- The C nearest the middle of the keyboard is known as middle C, or C4.
- Higher Cs are denoted as C5, C6, etc.; lower Cs are denoted as C3, C2, C1.
- Notes below C1 are labeled B0.
- All Cs on the piano are represented in Example 1-1.
Example 1-1:
- Definition of an Octave
- From any C up to the next C is called an octave.
- All pitches in one octave (from one C to the next C) are in the same octave register.
- Relationship of Notes within Octaves
- In Example 1-2, the white key above C4 is D4 (same octave register), and the white key below C4 is B3.
Example 1-2:
Notation on the Staff
- System of Musical Notation
- Similar to a graph with time on the X-axis and pitch on the Y-axis.
- Definition of a Staff
- A staff consists of five lines and four spaces, which may be extended with ledger lines (shown in Example 1-4).
Example 1-3:
Example 1-4: Staff with Ledger Lines
- Clefs
- A clef must be present at the beginning to indicate pitch associations for lines and spaces.
- Common clefs include:
- Treble clef (G clef)
- Bass clef (F clef)
- Alto clef (C clef)
- Tenor clef (C clef)
- Position of C4 illustrated in Example 1-5.
Example 1-5: Clefs and C4 Position
| Clef | Specific name | Generic name | C4 |
|---|
| G clef | Treble clef | C4 | |
| F clef | Bass clef | C4 | |
| C clef | Alto clef | C4 | |
| C clef | Tenor clef | C4 | |
- Grand Staff
- A grand staff combines two staves (treble and bass clefs) joined by a brace.
- Various pitches are notated in Example 1-6.
Example 1-6: Grand Staff Notation
The Major Scale
- Overview
- Major and minor scales form the foundation of tonal music.
- Definition of the Major Scale
- It consists of a specific pattern of small steps (half steps) and larger steps (whole steps) through an octave.
- A half step is the interval between adjacent keys (white or black) on the keyboard.
- Using only white keys, two half steps exist in each octave (Example 1-7).
Example 1-7: Half Steps in C Major Scale
- Definition of Whole Step
- A whole step skips the next key (white or black).
- There are five whole steps within an octave (Example 1-8).
Example 1-8: Whole Steps in C Major Scale
- Major Scale Pattern
- The major scale’s pattern of whole and half steps is preserved from any C up to the next C.
- The half steps occur between scale degrees ˆ3 and 4 and between scale degrees ˆ7 and ˆ1.
- Tetrachords
- The major scale can be visualized as two four-note patterns (tetrachords) separated by a whole step.
Example 1-9: G Major Scale
Major Key Signatures
- Key Signature Definition
- A pattern of sharps or flats at the beginning of a staff indicating consistent raising or lowering of certain pitches.
- Seven key signatures exist using sharps, with names determined by going up a half step from the last sharp (Example 1-11).
Example 1-11: Key Signatures with Sharps
| Sharp Count | Major Key |
|---|
| 1 | G major |
| 2 | D major |
| 3 | A major |
| 4 | E major |
| 5 | B major |
| 6 | F# major |
| 7 | C# major |
- Key Signatures with Flats
- The number of major keys with flats is similar; excluding F major, the name follows from the penultimate flat (Example 1-12).
Example 1-12: Key Signatures with Flats
| Flat Count | Major Key |
|---|
| 1 | F major |
| 2 | Bb major |
| 3 | Eb major |
| 4 | Ab major |
| 5 | Db major |
- Enharmonic Notes
- Notes sounding the same but spelled differently (e.g., E and F♯) are called enharmonic.
- Keys can also be enharmonic, such as B major and C♭ major.
- Transposition Definition
- Transposition refers to rewriting or playing music in a different key than originally composed.
Minor Scales
- Types of Minor Scales
- Three minor scale formations are commonly practiced:
- Natural Minor Scale
- Lowered notes: scale degrees ˆ3, ˆ6, and ˆ7.
- Harmonic Minor Scale
- Raised scale degree ˆ7.
- Melodic Minor Scale
- Ascending: raised scale degrees ˆ6 and ˆ7.
- Descending: same as natural minor.
- Comparison of Major and Minor Scales
- Example 1-14 summarizes the differences and similarities among the three minor scale types.
Example 1-14: Summary of Minor Scales
| Natural Minor | Harmonic Minor | Melodic Minor |
|---|
| 1 ˆ 2 ˆ 3 ˆ 4 ˆ 5 ˆ 6 ˆ 7 ˆ 1 ˆ | 1 ˆ 2 ˆ 3 ˆ 4 ˆ 5 ˆ 6 ˆ 7 ˆ 1 ˆ | 1 ˆ 2 ˆ 3 ˆ 4 ˆ 5 ˆ 6 ˆ 7 ˆ 1 ˆ |
Minor Key Signatures
- Key Signatures and Natural Minor
- Minor key signatures conform to the natural minor scale.
- Example: the key of C minor shares the key signature with E♭ major.
- Relative and Parallel Keys
- Relative major/minor: the major scale starts on 3 of the minor scale.
- Parallel major/minor: share the same tonic, eg. C major and c minor.
Scale Degree Names
- Traditional Scale Degree Names
- Example 1-16 lists traditional terms for scale degrees.
Example 1-16: Scale Degree Names
| Degree | Name |
|---|
| 1 | tonic |
| 2 | supertonic |
| 3 | mediant |
| 4 | subdominant |
| 5 | dominant |
| 6 | submediant |
| 7 | leading tone |
Intervals
- Definition of an Interval
- An interval measures the distance between two notes.
- Harmonic intervals: notes played simultaneously.
- Melodic intervals: notes played successively.
- Naming Intervals
- Consists of a numerical value and a modifier (perfect, major, minor, augmented, diminished).
- Simple and Compound Intervals
- Intervals smaller than an octave are simple; intervals larger than an octave are compound.
Perfect, Major, and Minor Intervals
- Defining Perfect Intervals
- Perfect intervals include unison, 4ths, 5ths, and octaves.
- Major and Minor Intervals
- Major intervals: 2nds, 3rds, 6ths, and 7ths.
- Modifiers change with half steps and interval terms.
Augmented and Diminished Intervals
- Examples
- An interval can become augmented by raising its pitch by a half step.
- Diminished intervals are formed by lowering the interval by a half step.