Pitch & the Treble Clef

Staff Notation in Music Music is written down in a number of different ways around the world. In the West, most instruments use a method called staff notation. The music …

bass clef notes on lines

The Bass Clef

We’ve already learned about our first clef, the treble clef. For most low-pitched music (where most of it is lower than middle C), we use the bass clef. The bass …

keyboard C#/Db

Accidentals

In music theory, the term “accidentals” is used to describe some notes which have been slightly altered. Accidentals are the symbols which are placed before the note on the stave …

grand staff with overlapping middle C

The Grand Staff

The notes on the treble and bass clefs staves all belong to the same “giant” stave which has 11 lines in total. This is called a “grand staff”.  The middle …

pause under note

Musical Symbols

Musical Symbols Symbols in music have many different shapes and uses. They are useful because they give us information quickly, without us having to read words. Symbols which are attached …

crescendo

Dynamics

Dynamics – or “Volume Control” “Dynamics” are all about the volume (loudness) of music – is it quiet or loud, does it increase or decrease in volume? Constant or Changing? …