Pitch Reading, Terminology

Question 1

Which pitch range on the cello does the bass clef cover?

Answer 1

Bass Clef

The bass clef covers the notes in the lowest pitch range of the cello.

Question 2

“Good Boys Do Fine Always” is the limerick for the lines or the spaces on the bass clef staff?

Answer 2

Lines

Good Boys Do Fine Always

Lines from the bottom up: G - B - D - F - A

Question 3

What do you call these symbols when they are used in contradiction to the key signature of a piece?

Once written, how long do they last?

Answer 3

Accidentals

Accidentals are sharps, flats, or naturals that contradict the key signature of a piece.

Once written, accidentals are applied to all of the same notes in a measure, until the next bar line.

Question 4

What are accidentals?

Once written, how long do accidentals last?

Answer 4

Accidentals

Accidentals are sharps, flats, or naturals that contradict the key signature of a piece.

Once written, accidentals are applied to all of the same notes in a measure, until the next bar line.

Question 5

What is an Enharmonic Equivalent?

Answer 5

Enharmonic Equivalent

An enharmonic equivalent is two different ways of indicating the same sounding pitch.

Example: Fsharp & Gflat

• The interval between F and G is one whole step or two half steps.
• When F has a sharp next to it, the pitch of F is raised to the half step between F and G.
• When G has a flat next to it, the pitch of G is lowered to the half step between F and G.
• The pitch that is the half step between F and G can be written as either Fsharp or Gflat.

Question 6

What is the function of a sharp?

Answer 6

Sharp

A sharp indicates that a pitch is one half step higher than a written pitch.

Question 7

How many half steps are in one whole step?

Answer 7

1 whole step = 2 half steps

Question 8

What do you call the short lines that are added for notes above or below the range of the staff?

Answer 8

Ledger Lines

Question 9

What do you call two pitches that are written in two different ways but indicate the same sounding pitch?

Answer 9

Enharmonic Equivalent

Example: Fsharp & Gflat

• The interval between F and G is one whole step or two half steps.
• When F has a sharp next to it, the pitch of F is raised to the half step between F and G.
• When G has a flat next to it, the pitch of G is lowered to the half step between F and G.
• The pitch that is the half step between F and G can be written as either Fsharp or Gflat.

Question 10

What do you call the sharps and flats found at the beginning of each line of a piece, and what are the two functions of these sharps and flats?

Answer 10

Key Signature

The key signature has two functions:

1. The key signature changes the notes throughout each line.
2. The number of sharps or flats designates the key of the piece.

Question 11

“All Cows Eat Grass” is the limerick for the lines or the spaces on the bass clef staff?

Answer 11

Spaces

All Cows Eat Grass

Spaces from the bottom up: A - C - E - G

Question 12

What is the limrick for remembering the spaces on the bass clef staff from the bottom up?

Answer 12

All Cows Eat Grass

Spaces from the bottom up: A - C - E - G

Question 13

What do you call this symbol and what is its function?

Answer 13

Flat

A flat indicates that a pitch is one half step lower than the written pitch.

Question 14

What is the limrick for remembering the lines on the bass clef staff from the bottom up?

Answer 14

Good Boys Do Fine Always

Lines from the bottom up: G - B - D - F - A

Question 15

Two half steps equal how many whole steps?

Answer 15

2 half steps = 1 whole step

Question 16

What do you call the 5 lines and 4 spaces on which music is written?

Answer 16

Staff

The staff consists of five lines and four spaces. Each of those lines and each of those spaces represents a different letter, which in turn represents a note. Those lines and spaces represent notes named A-G, and the note sequence moves alphabetically up the staff.

Question 17

What is the function of a flat?

Answer 17

Flat

A flat indicates that a pitch is one half step lower than the written pitch.

Question 18

What is the function of bar lines?

Answer 18

Bar Lines

Bar lines designate the limits of each measure.

Question 19

Where can you find the key signature of a piece, and what are the key signature’s two functions?

Answer 19

Key Signature

The key signature is the sharps or flats found at the beginning of each line of a piece.

The key signature has two functions:

1. The key signature changes the notes throughout each line.
2. The number of sharps or flats designates the key of the piece.

Question 20

What do you call this symbol and what is its function?

Answer 20

Natural

A natural cancels any sharps or flats.

Question 21

Which pitch range on the cello does the treble clef cover?

Answer 21

Treble Clef

The treble clef covers the notes in the highest pitch range of the cello.

Question 22

On which pitch does the third octave begin?

On which line or space on the bass clef staff is this pitch located?

Answer 22

C3

C3 is located on the second space from the bottom of the staff.

Question 23

These two pairs of pitches are separated by what interval?

B ←→ C

E ←→ F

All other natural pitches are separated by what interval?

Answer 23

These two pairs of pitches are only separated by an interval of a half step:

B ←→ C

E ←→ F

All other natural pitches are separated by the interval of a whole step which contains two half steps.

Question 24

What is the function of a natural?

Answer 24

Natural

A natural cancels any sharps or flats.

Question 25

On which pitch does the fourth octave begin? On which line or space on the bass clef staff is this pitch located?

Answer 25

C4 C4 is located one ledger line above the bass clef staff.

Question 26

What is the name of this clef, and which pitch range on the cello does it cover?

Answer 26

Bass Clef The bass clef covers the notes in the lowest pitch range on the cello.

Question 27

What do you call this symbol and what is its function?

Answer 27

Sharp A sharp indicates that a pitch is one half step higher than the written pitch.

Question 28

What do ledger lines look like and for what are they used?

Answer 28

Ledger Lines Ledger lines are short lines that are added for the notes above or below the range of the staff.

Question 29

Which pitch range on the cello does the tenor clef cover?

Answer 29

Tenor Clef The tenor clef covers the notes in the middle pitch range of the cello.

Question 30

What do you call the line that designates the limit of each measure?

Answer 30

Bar Line

Question 31

What does the staff look like and for what is it used?

Answer 31

Staff The staff consists of five lines and four spaces. Each of those lines and each of those spaces represents a different letter, which in turn represents a pitch. Those lines and spaces represent pitches named A-G, and the pitch sequence moves alphabetically up the staff repeating starting with A after reaching G for each octave.

Question 32

What are the two pairs of natural pitches that are separated by only the interval of one half step? What interval separates the other pitches?

Answer 32

These two pairs of pitches are only separated by an interval of a half step: B ←→ C E ←→ F All other natural pitches are separated by the interval of a whole step which contains two half steps.

Question 33

What is the lowest pitch/octave on the cello? On which line or space on the bass clef staff is this pitch located?

Answer 33

C2 C2 is two ledger lines below the bass clef staff.

Question 34

What is the name of this clef, and which pitch range on the cello does it cover?

Answer 34

Treble Clef The treble clef covers the notes in the highest pitch range of the cello.

Question 35

What do you call the space between two bar lines?

Answer 35

Measure The space between two bar lines is called a measure.