Pitch

Clefs

Stringed instruments use one of 3 Clefs: Treble (violin), Alto (viola), Bass (cello/double bass)

Lines and Spaces represent different letter names depending on the Clef that is being applied to the Staff.

Scale

In order to learn to read music, you must be familiar with each Pitch on the Lines and Spaces of the Staff in the Clef for your instrument.

Ascending and descending sequence of pitches in a stepwise motion.

Scales are the foundation from which key signatures are determined.

Scales are put into practice to improve intonation and sound quality.

Types of scales include: Major, minor, harmonic, melodic, pentatonic, octatonic, chromatic, whole tone etc.

Intonation is the ability to play pitches in tune on a given instrument. To play in tune in strings, we use tapes along the fingerboard until the Pitch is just right.

Vocabulary Words

Intervals

Pitch

An Interval is the distance between two notes on the Staff.

• Pitch
• Staff
• Line
• Space
• Interval
• Scale
• Intonation
• Clef
• Treble
• Alto
• Bass

Intervals can occur either Harmonically (simultaneously), or Melodically (successively in either ascending or descending order)

Pitch Definition

Pitch is defined as the highness or lowness of sound.

Pitches are specified by their placement on the musical Staff

• High notes are at the top of the Staff, low notes are at the bottom.

The Staff or Staves are a series of Lines and Spaces used to differentiate between Pitches that are identified by letters A-G