Lesson Tutor : Elements of Music Notation

Miscellaneous Notes About Music Notation
by Elaine Ernst Schneider and Joanne Mikola

The order of writing an opening staff is always the same : Clef first, Key signature second, followed by the Time signature. If there are more than one staffs in the piece of music, the time signature will not reappear unless there is a time change.

Accidentals

Accidentals are signs used in musical notation to indicate note alteration. For Example:

Sharp
sharp: raises the note half a step
A musical symbol that raises the pitch of a note by one half step.
.
Flat
flat: lowers the note half a step
A musical symbol that lowers the pitch of a note by one half step.
.
Double Sharp
A musical symbol that raises the pitch of a note by a whole step.
.
Double Flat
A musical symbol that lowers the pitch of a note by one whole step.
.
Natural
natural: cancels any previous used accidentals
Cancels any previously used accidentals.
1
Half Steps On the piano, the next note up, regardless of colour. Song to aid in remembering: Alexander’s Ragtime Band
.
Whole Steps On the piano, count up any two notes, regardless of colour. Song to aid remembering: Happy Birthday.
.
Enharmonic Spelling Different spelling of the same note. Examples:
 is the same as F
 is also an F
Note: In other instruments, such as a viola, G is actually a little higher than A

Click here for a printable copy of  blank sheet music.

 

For more Articles by this Author, Click Here
For more Lesson Plans in the Subject: Music General, click Here