The Language Of Music

Music TheoryPart 2

Staff, Clefs, Time, NotationBy Mr. White

Dotted Notes

Adding a dot to a note increases the length of the note:

note value + ½ the value of the note = dotted note

Dotted Notes

Example

whole note value = 4½ value = 2

4 + 2 = 6

Dotted Notes

Example

half note value = 2½ value = 1

2 + 1 = 3

Dotted Notes

Example

quarter note value = 1½ value = ½

1 + ½ = 1 ½ or 1.5

Time Signatures

Time Signatures

Fast time

In 2 beats per measure

Grouping 3 beats into 1

Triplet

Putting 3 eighth notes into one beat

Leger Lines

Leger lines extend the music staff to extend the range of notes to higher and lower

possibilities

Leger Lines

Leger Lines

D C B A G F E D

Leger Lines

Leger Lines

G A B C D E F G

Tie

Two notes with the same letter name connected by a curved line played as one

continuous sound

Tie

Primarily used to create longer notes across a bar line

Tie

1 2 - 1 2

Slur

Two or more notes with different letter names connected by a curved line played as a

connected sound without stopping or resting between notes

Accidentals

Flat f : lowers notes by ½ tone

Sharp d : raises notes by ½ tone

Natural e : cancels a flat or sharp

Accidentals

B Bf B Bf B A

Accidentals

C Cd C Cd C D

Natural ½ Steps

There are two occurrences where two natural notes are ½ step apart in pitch or tone

E - F B - C

Tetra Chord

A four (4) note scale developed by the early Greeks.It uses the formula 1 – 1 – ½ ,

Whole step, whole step, half step

1 1 ½

Tetra Chord

A four (4) note scale developed by the early Greeks.It uses the formula 1 – 1 – ½ ,

Whole step, whole step, half step

1 1 ½

d

Tetra Chord

*Reminder: Natural ½ steps = E-F & B-CTetra Chord formula = 1 – 1 – ½

Ef to F is 1 ½ steps

Tetra Chord

*Reminder: Natural ½ steps = E-F & B-CTetra Chord formula = 1 – 1 – ½

Tetra Chord

*Reminder: Natural ½ steps = E-F & B-CTetra Chord formula = 1 – 1 – ½

Tetra Chord

*Reminder: Natural ½ steps = E-F & B-CTetra Chord formula = 1 – 1 – ½

Major Scale

An eight (8) note scale created with two (2) tetra chords connected with a whole step: 1 – 1 – ½ (1) 1 – 1 – ½

- 1 - 1 - ½ - (1) - 1 - 1 - ½ -

Major Scale

An eight (8) note scale created with two (2) tetra chords connected with a whole step: 1 – 1 – ½ (1) 1 – 1 – ½

- 1 - 1 - ½ - (1) - 1 - 1 - ½ -

f

Key Signature

Placed after the clef and before the time signature, the key signature indicates notes in a song that are flat or sharp.