Instruments and Clefs Families Ranges Clefs

One important rule to remember - Many rules in music theory exist, simply in order to save ink. There are hundreds of ways to write identical musical ideas. 99% of those ways are inefficient and wastes of ink.

Opening discussion question Which musical instrument has approximately the widest range of pitches? Which musical instrument has approximately the narrowest range of pitches?

(Compare to the piano – A0 to C8 = 7 octaves and 3 half steps) Answers Widest: Cathedral organ – C0 to E9 = 9 octaves and 4 half steps (Compare to the piano – A0 to C8 = 7 octaves and 3 half steps) Narrowest: Timpani – D2 to G3 = 1 octave and 5 half steps Evidence: http://solomonsmusic.net/insrange.htm

4 instrument families Name them!

4 families – you need to know this! Name Brass Woodwind String Percussion Characteristics Metal, cup-shaped mouth piece Played with valves and/or slides Wooden reed, OR was made out of wood Played with keys Has strings Played with fingers or a bow Instruments that you hit or shake Can be pitched or unpitched Some instruments in that family Trumpet Flute Violin Piano* Trombone Bassoon Viola Timpani Tuba Saxophone Cello Snare Drum Euphonium Clarinet Bass Bells French Horn Oboe Guitar Gong Cornet Recorder Harp Cabasa

Question - If I play an instrument while reading music that has a treble clef on it, will that instrument most likely make higher pitches or lower pitches?

Clefs accommodate the musician. The clef you read is decided upon by the range of pitches that can be played or sung by your instrument. That’s why piano reads BOTH treble and bass clef, because it has one of the biggest ranges.

And remember…

This is going to get challenging. This will seem like a big leap from pitches and rhythms. We must know this information before we go on.

Many instruments, many ranges, all kinds of clefs: Bass Clef 15mb Bass Clef 8vb Subbass Clef Bass Clef Baritone Clef Tenor Clef Alto Clef Mezzo Soprano Clef Soprano Clef French Violin Treble Clef 8vb Treble Clef Treble Clef 8va Treble Clef 15ma Each clef is drawn using a variation on the following three symbols:

Musical symbols must work together This is not a treble clef... ...until it has been placed upon the staff in this exact position. Until then, it is just a G clef.

Relearning Clefs – write this slide down! Clefs are named more specifically based upon: The shape it takes: G Clef, F Clef, or C Clef Its position on the staff Any other symbols present (later)

Relearning Clefs: Middle C Each clef has been created in relation to Middle C Middle C is determined by the traditional piano. The pitch middle C is traditionally found here: Yes, there are pitches off the staff. Go with it.

Relearning Clefs: Middle C Each clef has qualities that help us find specific pitches on the staff: Swirl of G clef = G above Middle C Dots of F clef = F below Middle C Vertex of C clef = Middle C Practice: Draw and label all examples on the following slides… (you will only need to memorize some, but it is important to know the rest)

Relearning Clefs: G Clef The swirl of the G clef tells us where to find G. Specifically, G above middle C. If I shift the G clef, I can fit different pitches on the staff than before.

Relearning Clefs: F Clef The dots of the F clef tells us where to find f. Specifically, F below middle C. If I shift the F clef, I can fit different pitches on the staff than before.

Relearning Clefs: C Clef The vertex of the C clef shows Middle C.

SO – these are all different ways of writing the same pitch: Middle C

Why do we need this? To save ink! A bass singer in Men of Note needs a bass clef. Otherwise, his music would look like this: Confusing, unclear, A WASTE OF INK! Use bass clef… better!

Remember – If you understand the attributes of clefs, you can estimate how high or low something will sound. You can audiate, or hear that written music in your head much more accurately.

Practice – I will play an example on the piano. Choose which image most likely matches what I am playing. Example – Both show “C D E.” One of these will sound higher than the other.

Audio Practice: 1 or 2?

Audio Practice: 1 or 2?

Clefs and Instruments – Most common Write this slide down Treble Bass Other Trumpet French Horn Piccolo Flute Clarinet Oboe Violin Soprano voice Alto voice Trombone Euphonium Tuba Bassoon Contrabassoon Cello Double Bass Bass voice Viola – alto clef Piano – treble and bass (grand staff) Tenor voice – Treble clef 8vb

Practice One a piece of manuscript paper to be turned in, write the following pitches in quarter notes, preceding each set of pitches with the appropriate clef. (Do not use ledger lines.) Trumpet: A-C-D-E Cello: F-G-A-B Viola: D-E-C-A