HC

Chapter 1 - Music Fundamentals

Aspects of Sound

  • Aspects of sound - Properties that are fundamental to the elements of sound and music.
  • Sound has:
    • Pitch (Frequency) - Wavelength
    • Dynamic (Amplitude) - Wave height
    • Timbre (Tone color) - Waveform
    • Articulation - Envelope
    • Duration - The length of time sound and silence last.

Pitch-Frequency-Wavelength

  • Wavelength - The distance between one wave and the next. It’s related to the frequency and the pitch.
  • Frequency - The rate of vibration measured in times per second or Hertz.
    • The higher the frequency, the higher the pitch and the shorter the wavelength.

Dynamics-Amplitude-Wave Height

  • Height - The size of each individual wave

  • Amplitude - The length of the wave. It determines the loudness of the sound.

Timbre-Tone Color-Waveform

  • Waveform - The shape and form of the sound wave as it moves in distance and frequency.
  • Timbre - Unique qualities of sound produces by the shape of the waveform.
    • They’re made up of more than one frequency, involving harmonics or overtones.

Articulation-Envelope

  • Envelope - Composed of a sound’s attack, sustain, and release.

  • Articulation - The manner in which we begin the note, sustain it, and end the note.

Duration

  • Duration - The length of time sound and silence last.

The Staff and Clefs

  • Staf (Staves) - Where most music is written. A space of five lines and four spaces.

    • Lines and spaces are numbered from bottom to top.

  • Clefs - What determines the names of the lines and spaces used.

    • Soprano
    • Mezzo soprano
    • Alto
    • Tenor
    • Baritone

  • C clef - Sign used for all of the previously mentioned vocal ranges.

  • Movable C clef - The clef that locates middle C and moves around from line to line to designate range.

  • Alto clef - When the C clef is placed on the third line of the staff.

  • Tenor clef - When the C clef is placed on the fourth line of the staff.

  • Treble clef - When the G clef is placed on the second line of the staff.

  • Bass clef - When the F clef is placed on the fourth line of the staff.

The Grand Staff

  • Grand staff - A system of two staves - the top staff uses the treble clef and the bottom staff uses the bass clef.
  • System - When multiple staves are connected together by bar lines, brackets, or a brace.
  • Neutral clef - Used for rhythm only or for pitchless or untuned instruments such as triangle, cymbals, or tambourine.

Accidentals

  • Ledger lines - Small lines that extend the staff while still keeping the five lines and four spaces intact.
  • Half step - The smallest space or distance between notes.
  • Sharp - Raises the pitch one half step above its natural pitch.
  • Flat - Lowers the pitch one half step below its natural pitch.
  • Enharmonic equivalent - When notes sound the same but are named differently.
  • Natural - The musical symbol that cancels out a flat or a sharp.
  • Double sharp - Musical symbol used to raise a pitch by two half steps.
  • Double flat - Musical symbol that lowers the pitch by two half steps.

Notation

  • Parts of a musical note
    • Head
    • Stem
    • Flag
    • Beam
  • Note head - Body of the note
  • Stem - Part of a note that is common to all note types shorter in duration than the whole note.
  • Flag - Part of the note that is common to all note types shorter in duration than a quarter note.
    • More flags = Shorter note
  • Music notation symbols
    • Bar line - The vertical line that divides the staff into measures.
    • Measure - The unit of space between the bar lines.
    • Double bar line - Two lines that signal the end of a section of music.
    • Final bar line - Indicates the end of the piece or composition.