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Music Basics

Music Basics. Music notation the staff. Music notation clefs. Music notation. Script letter G. Music notation. Middle C in G clef. Middle C in other clefs. Notes in the Grand Staff. Pitches. Refers to pitch only as in cycles per second 440Hz equals A above middle C

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Music Basics

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  1. Music Basics

  2. Music notationthe staff

  3. Music notationclefs

  4. Music notation

  5. Script letter G

  6. Music notation

  7. Middle C in G clef

  8. Middle C in other clefs

  9. Notes in the Grand Staff

  10. Pitches • Refers to pitch only as in cycles per second • 440Hz equals A above middle C • 220Hz equals A below middle C

  11. Overtone Series • All pitches except sine waves have these • Different emphasis on different overtones produce different timbres • Partials begin on 1, overtones begin on 0

  12. Notes • Refers to pitch, duration, loudness, etc. • Notes equate to cope-events • Pitch is the second element of a cope-event

  13. Duration

  14. Durations

  15. Relationships

  16. Rests

  17. Meter

  18. Tempo • Fast (q = 120) - Allegro • Moderate (q = 90) - Moderato • Slow (q = 60) - Adagio

  19. Dynamics

  20. Articulations

  21. Notes sounding alone • One after another is called monody • Or monophony • Or melody • Or musical line

  22. Tonality • Tonality usually means notes sounding primarily according to a given scale • Major scales consist of stepwise intervals • Major scale: M2 M2 m2 M2 M2 M2 m2 • Natural minor scale M2 m2 M2 M2 m2 M2 M2 • Notes not in scale called chromatic

  23. Key • Keys are defined by scales and can be centered around any one of 12 starting notes • To create the proper intervallic content some keys must have sharped and flatted notes • Key signatures make these easier to read

  24. Motives • Motives are groups of 3 to 7 notes that have some distinctive property (pitch, rhythm, etc.) • Motives are varied in many ways (transposition, inversion, extrapolation, etc.) • Motives help identify longer melodic lines

  25. Notes sounding together • Are called harmony if they move together • Are called polyphony or counterpoint if moving offset • Fugues and canons are examples of polyphony

  26. Harmony • Harmony has function (syntax and semantics) • Harmonic syntax means what can follow what • Harmonic semantics means what constitutes the harmony itself

  27. Harmonic syntax and semantics • In tonal music, some harmonies can follow other harmonics but not others • We use Roman numerals in indicate semantics as in a major scale: • I, IV, and V indicate Tonic, Subdominant, and Dominant harmonic called primary functions • ii (supertonic), iii (mediant), vi (submediant), and vii (leading-tone), called secondary functions

  28. Harmonic syntax • I can be followed by anything • V is best followed by I (authentic) or vi (deceptive) but never IV • IV can be followed by V (mostly) and I • ii belongs to the IV family, iii the I family, vi the I family, and vii the V family interchangeably.

  29. Harmonic syntax • I means home base • IV means moving toward V (pre-dominant) • V means needs to go home

  30. Phrases • Music consists of phrases usually as long as a human breath (based on past on singing) • Phrases end in cadences • Cadences usually end in I (authentic), V, (half), or V-vi (deceptive) • Phrases usually come in pairs in tonal music as in (cadences V and then I - question/answer.

  31. Modulation • Modulation means to subtly change keys for variety • Best key changes mean to move from a key 1 sharp or 1 flat more of less in key signature.

  32. Periods • Phrases group into periods consisting usually of two matching Q and A phrases • Periods can repeat, repeat with variation, or contrast

  33. Sections • Sections consist of two or more periods • Sections can consist of contrasting or similar periods

  34. Form • Form delineates the material of a work or movement of music • Form is usually described by u.c. letters in alphabetical order • ABA form (called ternary) indicates one musical idea (section A) followed by a contrasting musical idea (section B) followed by a return of section A

  35. Structure • Structure is NOT form • Structure indicates relative importance of musical material (hierarchy) • Structure deletes less important musica material in order to highlight the important musical material

  36. Example

  37. Chromaticism in Tonal Music • Secondary dominants and L.T.7s • Borrowed Notes and Chords • Neapolitan Chords • Augmented Sixth Chords • Regions • Simple Modulations • Far-Related Modulations

  38. Chromatic Mediants • Mediants and Submediants with chromatic alterations • Like I, V, and IV, mirror one another around the Tonic • Typically have common tones with previous and/or following chords

  39. Chromatic Non-Harmonic Tones • Passing • Neighboring • Anticipations • Suspensions • Delayed resolutions

  40. Tristan Sample

  41. Some More

  42. Do I Dare?

  43. MIDI • Musical Instrument Digital Interface • Watch it: “MIDI interface” is redundant • Does not create sound • Like a musical score • Channels tell sequencers (Finale, Sibelius, etc.) when to turn on a channel, turn off a channel, etc. • Set the instrument in any channel you want

  44. MIDI and Music Notation • Ontime: 0; Duration:500 = an eighth-note in music notation • Ontime: 845; Duration:260 = gibberish in music notation • Result: keep your cope-events in logical ontimes and logical durations • Triplets, etc. = 333, 333, 334 durations, etc. • If you want good notation-be careful!!!

  45. MIDI types • Performed MIDI files • Must quantize to a given duration that often alters the music severely • Non-performed MIDI files • Works best for analyzing music

  46. Remember • Music notation is an algorithm • Music notation is an algorithm created by other people • Music notation is an algorithm created by other people that severely limits expression • Ledger lines, rhythm, pitch, etc. • MIDI need not have such limitations • Only if you wish to see your music represented

  47. Great music is music that: • Sells the most? • Performed the most? • Listened to the most? • Talked about the most? • Differing arrangements the most? • Quoted the most? • Lasts the longest?

  48. If so • The best restaurant would be Macdonalds • The best film would be Titanic • The best author would be Stephen King • The best hotel would Best Western • The best music would be the Star Spangled Banner

  49. Then what is it? • Best: music that does the most with the least • Worst: music that does the least with the most Or • Best: music that gets better the more you listen to it • Worst: music that you listen to once.

  50. Best music is like an onion • Keep peeling off the layers and continue to discover something new.

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