Notation

This section explains musical notation. Understanding aspects of notation is essential for reading, performing, and analysing music accurately.

Notation

Musical notation is the system used to write down music so that it can be read and performed by musicians. It represents pitch, rhythm, dynamics, articulation, and other musical elements using symbols on a stave (a set of five lines and four spaces).

The clef at the beginning of the stave indicates the pitch range of the music:

Treble clef: Used for higher-pitched instruments and voices.

Bass clef: Used for lower-pitched instruments and voices.

Notation - Sharps and Flats

Sharps (♯) and flats (♭) alter the pitch of a note:

A sharp (♯) raises the pitch of a note by a semitone.

A flat (♭) lowers the pitch of a note by a semitone.

Natural (♮): Cancels a sharp or flat, returning the note to its original pitch.

Sharps and flats can appear as accidentals next to a note in the music, affecting only that measure, or in the key signature at the start of the piece.

Notation - Key Signatures

A key signature tells you which notes are consistently sharp or flat throughout the piece. It appears at the beginning of each stave, after the clef, and applies to all notes of the same pitch unless an accidental is used.

Sharp keys: Key signatures with sharps, such as G major (one sharp) or A major (three sharps).

Flat keys: Key signatures with flats, such as F major (one flat) or B♭ major (two flats).

Key signatures are crucial for understanding the tonality (major or minor) of a piece.

Notation - Major and Minor Keys, and Chord Symbols

Major keys: Generally sound happy or bright. They follow a pattern of tones (whole steps) and semitones (half steps).

Minor keys: Often sound sad or dark. They follow a slightly different pattern of tones and semitones compared to major keys.

Chord symbols are used to describe chords in a piece of music:

A capital letter represents a major chord (e.g., C = C major).

A capital letter followed by 'm' represents a minor chord (e.g., Cm = C minor).

Numbers like 7 can indicate a seventh chord (e.g., G7 = G dominant seventh).

Notation - Articulation

Articulation markings show how a note or group of notes should be played:

Staccato (·): Play the note short and detached.

Legato (slur): Play the notes smoothly and connected.

Accent (>): Emphasise the note.

Tenuto (–): Hold the note for its full value, slightly emphasising it.

Marcato (^): Play the note with a stronger accent.

These markings give performers guidance on the expression and style of the music.

Notation - Dynamics

Dynamics indicate the volume of the music, and are typically written using Italian terms:

p (piano): Soft.

f (forte): Loud.

mp (mezzo-piano): Moderately soft.

mf (mezzo-forte): Moderately loud.

pp (pianissimo): Very soft.

ff (fortissimo): Very loud.

Crescendo (cresc.) and diminuendo (dim.) symbols indicate a gradual increase or decrease in volume.

Notation - Musical Scores

A musical score is a complete written representation of all the parts in a piece of music. It allows performers to see their part in relation to others. There are different types of scores:

Full score: Shows all instruments and voices, typically used by conductors.

Piano score: A simplified version, often used for rehearsals.

Lead sheet: Contains the melody, lyrics, and chord symbols, common in jazz and pop music.

Summary of Notation Concepts:

Notation: The written system to represent pitch, rhythm, dynamics, and other musical elements.

Sharps and Flats: Symbols that raise or lower a note by a semitone.

Key Signatures: Indicate which notes are sharp or flat throughout the piece.

Major and Minor Keys, and Chord Symbols: Describe the tonality and chords in a piece.

Articulation: Markings that indicate how notes should be played.

Dynamics: Indicate the volume of the music.

Musical Scores: Written music that shows all parts for performance or study.