Theory Cricket Blog

One place to learn all things music theory and music education

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Anatomy of the Music Staff - Part 2

A key signature is a set of certain note pitches in the form of sharps and flats. These note pitches create a scale of notes that sound a certain way all together. a key signature will typically go at the beginning of the lined staff after the clef symbol. 

The circle of fifths is a diagram that shows 15 sets of key signatures with their specific note pitches (sharps and flats).

Time signatures are used to create the rhythm of a music piece. They are placed after the key signature on the staff and look like a fraction. The top number of the fraction will equal the amount of beats in a bar/measure. That bottom number of the fraction will equal which note receives the beat. If a piece of music is in 4/4 time, then there are 4 beats in a bar/measure and the quarter note receives the beat.

The bar lines on a music staff represent each measure on the staff. The double bar line on the music staff represents the end of a music piece. 

[theorycricket-blog]

Anatomy of the Music Staff

The modern day music staff consists of five lines with four spaces. Music notes are then placed on a staff to notate music. 

Clefs are used to show what notes are assigned to which lines and spaces. When the first staff lines were created, composers would write letters on the staff lines to show which notes were assigned to which area of the staff. The most commonly used clefs are Treble Clef and Bass Clef. 

In treble clef the second line on the staff from the bottom is considered the G line. The treble symbol we use today has evolved from the letter G. The treble clef shows that notes are above middle C on the staff.

In bass clef the second line on the staff from the top is considered the F line. The bass symbol we use today has evolved from the letter F. The bass clef shows that notes are below middle C on the staff. 

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Music Symbols and Terms

Sheet music not only has the fundamental symbols that were discussed in previous posts; it also has more symbols and terms that dictate how a piece is intended to be played. These specific terms are called dynamics and they have specific symbols that go with each of them. Here are some of those dynamics:

Adagio: Slow & Expressive

Andante: Moderately Slow

Allegro: Fast & Lively

Cantabile: Play in a singing style

diminuendo: gradually play softer

Fine: Ending of a section of music

Forte: Play loudly

Fortissimo: Play very loudly

Largo: Very slow and broad

Lento: Play slowly

Mezzo forte: Play moderately loud

Mezzo Piano: Play moderately soft

Piano: Play softly

Pianissimo: Play very softly

Ritard: Gradually play slower

Here is a link for pictures of these dynamics and more: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/715227984553881542/

[theorycricket-blog]

Rhythm and Note Names

You may love a specific melody from a modern song. This song involves a term called rhythm. Rhythm is the amount of sound in a piece measured in notes and rests (silences). These rhythms can be placed on a lined staff and clapped out if needed. A 5-lined staff requires a few different items to become whole. First the clef symbol. A clef determines the pitch that the notes are written in. Next is the key signature. This key signature indicates which notes are flat, sharp, and natural on the scale throughout the piece of music. Next comes the time signature. The time signature looks like a fraction and indicates the amount of beats per measure (top number) and which note receives the beat (bottom number). After this the music begins. Music notes are then placed on the lined staff to copy or write specific melodies. The notes on a staff are represented in the image above. For Treble Clef, there are mnemonic phrases to help remember the notes: Every Good Boy Does Fine and FACE. the Bass Clef also has mnemonic phrases for each note: Good Boys Do Fine Always, and All Cows Eat Grass. 

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Musical Notation

Check out my prezi on Musical Notation!

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This is a great history and introduction to musical notations in Western Music!

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A music typewriter. This is how music was typed before computers.

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The Unsettling Sound Of Tritones, The Devil's Interval

In music theory, the tritone is an interval of three whole steps that can sound unresolved and creepy. Over time, the sound has wound up in jazz, rock and even Broadway musicals.

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how sheet music looks for different composers (on the same instrument)

chopin

debussy

shostakovich

mozart

scriabin

liszt

rachmaninoff

ravel

robert schumann

clara schumann

beethoven

scott joplin

philip glass

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What every musician wants: a pinkie as strong as a thumb

What every musician gets: five fingers with different strength that do whatever they want whenever they want

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In the last post we talked about the history of the ukulele and what type of instrument it was. The 4 notes of a Soprano ukulele are G-C-E-A. These strings also consist of notes going down each fret on the ukulele. Above you will see a photo with G-C-E-A at the top. Under that there are horizontal lines. These lines are considered a fret. Next there are letters listed in between these lines. These letters are actually note names. To play a note, one would place a finger from their left hand up against the fret for the corresponding note. Then with their right hand, they would pluck that same string. When multiple notes are played one after another, it is considered a melody. When fingerstyle technique is used with ukulele, one could play multiple melodies very efficiently and smoothly. Another common ukulele playing method are chords. Each chord consists of at least 3 notes. To play a chord, the diagrams above show all four strings (represented as 4 vertical lines) with horizontal lines for frets. On certain lines there is a letter which is actually a note. Fingers are placed down on all strings that have a letter on them, on the fret represented by the horizontal line. Then the player would pluck all 4 strings in an up or down motion with their right hand. This would play a chord with strumming. Strumming is the act of plucking the strings in a continuous motion while going up or down. Depending on the song, there would be a different strum pattern. 

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The ukulele is a member of the strings family that originated in the 19th century. It is known for its Hawaiian tones but is very versatile throughout all music genres. Most ukuleles consist of four strings, but 5-8 stringed ukuleles can be found some places. There are four main sizes of ukuleles: soprano, concert, tenor, baritone. Each of these sizes will have a different sound to them. The ukulele consists of 12-21 frets depending on what size. The most standard type of ukulele is the Soprano. The Soprano ukulele is usually around 21 inches in length. Each ukulele has a unique sound no matter if it is the same type. The normal tuning for a Soprano ukulele is from left to right: G-C-E-A. Most stringed instruments start out with the first string being the lowest tone (deepest) out of the four. The ukulele breaks this pattern, with its lowest string being a G. This is partially what makes the sound of a ukulele so unique. Playing a ukulele consists of the same techniques for guitar playing. There are strum patterns and chords. There are also melodies that can be played by placing a finger on a certain string and fret and plucking that string with the other hand, this is better known as fingerstyle playing. 

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What Is An Interval & How To Count It

A musical interval is the distance on a musical scale between two notes. 

How to Count an Interval: Each note in a musical scale is assigned a number according to where the interval starts. If we are counting an interval from C to G. We start on C and this would equal 1, D=2, E=3, F=4, G=5. This interval from C-G is a fifth. If we are counting an interval from G-C we would start with G=1, A=2, B=3, C=4. The interval from G-C is a fifth. Interval names will always be: Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth. 

Here is a quick guide to help with counting musical intervals:  https://issuu.com/tobyrush/docs/intervals

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The Beginnings of Music Theory-What is a Musical Scale?

To explain what a musical scale is, we need to break it down first: 

What is a Note? A note is a pitch that is held for a duration of time. 

What is a Pitch? This is the sound created by a frequency. This sound is assigned a letter A-G in the musical alphabet. 

What is Frequency? This is a speed of a vibration and determines the pitch of a sound.

A musical scale is a series of notes in order of the pitch they are assigned using letters A-G. These notes can then be notated on a staff so they can be read and played by others. It is just like someone writing a book, for others to read that book it has to be written down first. These notations look like the picture below. These notes have mnemonics to help remember them.

Picture used from:  http://www.lilyyehpianostudio.com/awtreymusicnotation.html

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Not all hours of practice are equally productive. Practice is a physically and mentally demanding activity. Self-care is necessary to cultivate the physical health and deep focus necessary for practice to be effective. If you’re exhausted, hungry, physically inactive, and lonely, you’re going to hit roadblocks in your musical development. It doesn’t matter how many hours you put in if they’re all burnt-out hours.

Rethink by Jon Gauer of the classic Should I Be Practising flowchart

(via Rethinking the “Should You Be Practicing Right Now?” Flowchart)

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When I finally identify the flaw in my posture that’s been hindering my vocal technique

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Posture can effect all practices with music from instruments to vocals!

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Welcome To Theory Cricket

Let us help teach you the basics and the advanced of music theory and music education all in one place!  Theory Cricket strives to provide the best music theory experience in the easiest way. It is never too late to learn music theory!