Pitch in Music Theory  refers to the perceived frequency of a sound, which determines its highness or lowness.

 

SHARPS AND FLATS - FOUR MUSICAL CLEFS


The four musical Clefs are  TREBLE   /  ALTO   /  TENOR    /  BASS 


Each clef has five lines. The first step is to establish where middle C sits for each clef.

Treble : Middle C is below the stave

Alto : Middle C sits on the middle line of the stave


Tenor : Middle C sits on the second line from the top of the stave


Bass : Middle C is above the stave.

SHARPS AND FLATS on the STAVES


Use your knowledge of TONAL STRUCTURE to identify sharps and flats required for each key. As a reminder the rhyme is F C G D A E B . Sharps go forward from left to right, Flats go backwards from right to left.

FLATS KEY SIGNATURES


The same 'M' pattern is used for all four clefs using the rhyme B E A D G C F

SHARPS KEY SIGNATURES


For sharps keys there are two patterns to remember.

TREBLE , ALTO , BASS


These three clefs use the HARRY POTTER forehead mark as a guide.
Following the rhyme F C G D A E , the first sharp should be high, followed by a lower sharp.


TENOR CLEF


This is the 'odd one out' the 'N' in NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM can be used. Following the rhyme F C G D A E B, the first sharp should be low, followed by a high sharp.


ENHARMONIC EQUIVILANTS


Enharmonic Equivilants are notes that sound the same but are written differently, like C# and Db.


Further ther are DOUBLE SHARPS and DOUBLE FLATS 


A Double sharp is  written with  an 'X' preceeding the note 


A Double flat is written with TWO   flattend Bs  preceeding the note 




TRANSPOSITION IN MUSIC


Transpoistion in music  refers to changing the key of a piece by moving every note up or down by the same interval.

 

It's important that you have a thorough understanding  of  TONAL STRUCTURE ,  KEYS AND SCALES  before looking at a TRANSPOSITION question.



HOW to TRANSPOSE


You will be asked to transpose a short piece of music from one key to another.


Step 1 

ESTABLISH THE HOME KEY 


The short phrase of music will have a KEY SIGNATURE with SHARPS or FLATS 


Go through  TONAL STRUCTURE rules. ie  NAME THE KEY  that has a set number of SHARPS OR FLATS 


Step 2

ESTABLISH THE KEY NOTE

of the newly established KEY.  Write out the scale including all SHARPS or  FLATS 


UP or  DOWN 


In the theory paper question you will be asked to transpose either up or down.


There are only three possible transpositions at Grade 5  theory.


TRANSPOSITIONS 


Type  1  -  Up  or down by a MAJOR 2nd 

Count in SIMITONES  - Do not include the first  note   (COUNT  TWO semitones)


Type  2  -  Up of down by a MINOR 3rd 

Count in SIMITONES  - Do not include the first  note   (COUNT  THREE semitones)



Type  3  - Up  or down  by a PERFECT 5th 

Count in SIMITONES  - Do not include the first  note   (COUNT  SEVEN semitones)


GOING UP 

Write out the HOME KEY with the NEW KEY  above


GOING DOWN

Write out the HOME KEY with the NEW KEY  below 


CONNECT BOTH KEYS 

There are 8 degress for each scale. Draw a line  from  Position 1 from the HOME KEY  to the NEW KEY .  Repeat for all 8  positions 



CHECK THE MUSIC

for both the HOME KEY and the NEW KEY  looking at both the KEY SIGNATURE and NOTES.