Unit 2: The Staff, Notes, and Pitches

The Staff Music is written on a STAFF of five lines and four spaces in between Music notes are oval-shaped symbols that are placed ON the lines and IN the spaces (note how it is worded) They represent musical sounds, called PITCHES

5 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 The lines are numbered from bottom to top: The spaces between the lines are also numbered from bottom to top: 5 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1

If the notes appear HIGHER on the staff, they sound HIGHER in pitch If the notes appear LOWER on the staff, they sound LOWER in pitch

Exercises: On the staff, mark an X in the following locations: X Line 3 Space 2 Line 1 Space 4 Line 5 Space 1 Line 4 Space 3 Line 2

Treble Clef and Staff Music notes are named after the first seven letters of the alphabet, A B C D E F G By their position on the staff, they can represent the entire range of musical sound CLEF signs help us to organize the staff so notes can be easily read

Treble Clef and Staff The TREBLE CLEF is used for notes in the higher pitch ranges The treble (or G CLEF) has evolved from a stylized letter G: The curl of the treble clef circles the line on which the note G is placed. This is G above MIDDLE C (the C nearest the middle of the keyboard)

Notes of the Treble Staff E F G A B C D E F

Notes of the Treble Staff F A C E

Notes of the Treble Staff E G B D F “Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge”

Bass Clef and Staff The BASS CLEF is used for notes in the lower pitch ranges The bass(or F CLEF) has evolved from a stylized letter F: The curl of the bass clef circles the line on which the note F is placed. This is F below MIDDLE C (the C nearest the middle of the keyboard)

Notes of the Bass Staff G A B C D E F G A

Notes of the Bass Staff A C E G “All Cows Eat Grass”

“Good Boys Do Fine Always” Notes of the Bass Staff G B D F A “Good Boys Do Fine Always”

The Grand Staff Connected by a brace and a line Two lines combine to form the GRAND STAFF Mostly for piano and other barred instruments (xylophone, etc.) When seen in music, it is read as ONE line of music, even though it is two STAVES (plural form of staff)

Ledger Lines: the Middle Notes Ledger lines are short lines added to extend the range of the staff when the notes are too low or too high to be written on the staff: Ledger line D C B The notes in the middle of the staff are B, C, and D

Ledger Lines: the Middle Notes The notes in the are written differently but sound the same D C B

Write the Letter Names of the Notes:

Write the Letter Names of the Notes:

Write the notes indicated by the clefs and letter names in TWO places on the grand staff. Use ledger lines where necessary: E G C B D C B D