9 Elective 1 & 2

 Tuesday, November 10, 2009

More On Intervals

"Music Theory Intervals" The Distance between Two Notes Let's explore the element of music theory intervals. The distance between two notes is the determination of an interval.  What is special about intervals is that they are easily defined and shown by the number of half steps from a starting note.  We are not going to attempt to explain the pitch differences but only explain the interval idea. The names will give clues and explore them in wikipedia will give you an in depth understanding. We are most concerned at this stage with the application or math of the music theory intervals. Interval Names Overview The names of an intervals are stated in such terms as a second, third, fourth, fifth, and continue up to fifteenths. What is more difficult is that for a name it can be modified for different position with some of these modifiers  M=major, m or (-) = minor, #=sharp, b=flat, octave=8va which change the position. We might say minor 6th. which is a half step down from a sixth. Now that can start to be confusing and we are not about to let that happen. Music Theory Intervals in One Octave: We have defined the 7 base note names, A - B - C - D - E - F - G. By using the keyboard below starting on the C note we can examine the basic interval from 2nd to 8th (octave) by using just the white keys. (This is the key of C, the C scale, and has no sharp or flats, the black keys)

2nd to Octave: The first rule of working with intervals is that the note you start with is called 1 or unison. Pretend like you were placing the same note on two instruments the interval between them would be one or in unison playing the same note. Going from C to the next white key will give you an interval. C to D is a 2nd. C to E is a 3rd and so forth until you get C to C which is the 8th, and Octave. The following measure shows the intervals for the C octave. Here are the rules for finding music theory intervals.   Interval Example Label Second  (2 half steps) C to D 2 Third (4 half steps) C to E 3 Perfect Fourth (5 half steps) C to F 4 Perfect Fifth (7 half steps) C to G 5 Sixth (9 half steps) C to A 6 (Major) Seventh (11 half steps) C to B M7 Octave (12 half steps) C to C (8va) 8 The Seventh is labeled major because the other seventh we will explore later is the dominate 7th and is typically referred to when we say seventh. What you have just learned above are the intervals related to the major scale. When applied any major scale can be created using these intervals and half step rules.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

More on

Tones, Semitones and Accidentals   

Tones and Semitones

Now you understand pitch on a grand orchestral scale. We turn to the smallest intervals in western music the tones and semitones.

The letters of the alphabet are separated by tones and semitones.

E to F is a semitone. Twice a semitone is a tone.

F to G is a tone. The alphabet is not equidistant.

F to G is twice the distance of E to F.

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

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

The ruler of pitch

Western music is divided into 12 equidistant semitones.

How do we write the interval between F and G?

We introduce new notation.

A semitone higher than F is F#. A semitone lower than G is Gb. F# and Gb are the same pitch. They represent the semitone between F and G.

The step-like alphabetic ascension of tones and semitones is familiar to all who play the piano keyboard.