Unit 2. Pitch
1. Pitch: definition
2. Elements of musical notation which determine the pitch
2.1. Notes
2.2. Staff
2.3. Clef
2.4. Tones and semitones
2.5. Intervals
2.6. Accidentals
2.7. Scale
2.8. Key signature
3. Learn more: virtual piano
1. Definition
Pitch is the quality of sound which allows us to distinguish between low and high sounds. It depends on the wave frecuency.
2. Elements of musical notation which determine the pitch
2.1. Notes
The names of the notes are used to designate the different pitch of sounds.
2.2. Staff
The staff (plural staves) is the group of five lines and four spaces on which we write the notes.
When the staff ends, we use ledger lines.
2.3. Clef
The clef is the symbol that indicates the name of the notes on the staff.
The most common clefs are the G clef or treble clef on the 2nd line for high registers and the F clef or bass clef on the 4th line for low registers.
2.4. Tones and semitones
The units of measure for pitch are tones and semitones. Semitones are always between the notes E-F and B-C.
2.5. Intervals
An interval is the distance between two notes.
Intervals can be ascending (from low to high) or descending (from high to low). In order to analyze an interval we have to count all the notes it covers (including the first and the last) and measure the tones and semitones between them.
It is an ascending interval.
It is a 5th because it has 5 notes.
It has 3 tones and 1 semitone.
It is a descending interval.
It is a 3rd because it has 3 notes.
It has 2 tones.
2.6. Accidentals
Accidentals are symbols that modify the pitch of a note one semitone.
A sharp (♯) raises half a note.
A flat (♭) lowers half a note.
A natural (♮) cancels the effect of a sharp or flat.
2.7. Scale
A scale is an ordered sequence of ascending or descending notes. The Diatonic scale is formed by 5 tones and 2 semitones. It has two modes: Major and minor.
Major scales follow the pattern of C Major: the semitones are placed between the III-IV and VII-VIII degrees.
Minor scales follow the pattern of A minor: the semitones are placed between the II-III and V-VI degrees.
2.8. Key signature
When we write music in other scales different from C Major or A minor, flats and sharps are
needed. They are indicated at the beginning of the staff, just between the clef and the time
signature. The sharps and flats of the key signature affect all the notes with the same names in the piece.
