Music Theory

Basics #

Clefs and Staffs #

• Clefs assign notes to lines/spaces
  • Treble Clef (G Clef): Line around which it wraps around is G
  • Bass Clef (F Clef): Line between two dots is F
• Ledger lines extend staff
• Grand Staff: Treble and Bass Clef joined by Middle C

Note and Rest Durations #

• Adding a flag to a quarter note halves its time duration

Time Signatures #

Dots and Ties #

• A dot increases note duration by half

• Ties let the duration of a note travel across barriers like the measure line
• In the example, the 4th and 5th notes are combined = a half note

Steps and Accidentals #

• Keys next to each other are a half step away
• A tone (whole step) is two half steps
• Accidentals raise or lower pitch of notes
• Flat (b) lowers a note by a half step, sharp (#) raises.
• Black key between C and D: C# or Db -> enharmonic spelling, multiple names
• Double flats and double sharps alter a note by a whole step