By Prof. Lydia Ayers

PitchPitch Relative highness or lowness of a note.Relative highness or lowness of a note. David Barber and Dave Donald, A Musician's DictionaryDavid Barber and Dave Donald, A Musician's Dictionary adding PITCH to rhythm and amplitude creates melodyadding PITCH to rhythm and amplitude creates melody

PitchPitch is [i:20] continuousis [i:20] continuous But we usually break it up into scales of 5 to 7 notesBut we usually break it up into scales of 5 to 7 notes

PitchPitch the relative highness or lowness that we hear in a sound the relative highness or lowness that we hear in a sound      Here’s stands joined hearts  a and    cou - ple hands. March Down to Old Tennessee

PitchPitch StaffStaff a graph of pitch versus timea graph of pitch versus time TIME PITCH

PitchPitch Ledger LinesLedger Lines short horizontal lines that extend staves (plural of staff) up or down and are spaced at the same distance as the staff linesshort horizontal lines that extend staves (plural of staff) up or down and are spaced at the same distance as the staff lines ledger lines extend through the stems of notesledger lines extend through the stems of notes

PitchPitch [i:21] Middle C[i:21] Middle C the note in the middle of the two clefsthe note in the middle of the two clefs Middle C uses one ledger line below the treble clef staffMiddle C uses one ledger line below the treble clef staff Middle C uses one ledger line above the bass clef staffMiddle C uses one ledger line above the bass clef staff

ClefsClefs signs found at the left-hand side of staves to indicate the lines and spaces that represent the pitchessigns found at the left-hand side of staves to indicate the lines and spaces that represent the pitches a staff with a clef sign indicates pitches:a staff with a clef sign indicates pitches: treble clef for middle C and higher notes (read from bottom to top):treble clef for middle C and higher notes (read from bottom to top): Fine C E F A Boy Good Does Every

Bass Clef bass clef for middle C and lower notes (read from bottom to top):bass clef for middle C and lower notes (read from bottom to top): Grass Always Eat Cows All Boys Good Fine DoDo

Other Clefs alto clef used for the viola:alto clef used for the viola: Middle C tenor clef used for the bassoon (high notes):tenor clef used for the bassoon (high notes): Middle C percussion clef — lines represent percussion instruments:percussion clef — lines represent percussion instruments: wood block gong

What are the Properties of Sound? harmonic content Perceived Property (how we hear it) timbre (color) amplitude Physical Property frequency loudness pitch

FrequencyFrequency the rate at which a regular vibration pattern repeats itselfthe rate at which a regular vibration pattern repeats itself precise measurement in cycles per secondprecise measurement in cycles per second

FrequencyFrequency RateRate number of cycles (times) per secondnumber of cycles (times) per second HertzHertz cycles per secondcycles per second [i:22] A440[i:22] A440 frequency of 440 cycles per secondfrequency of 440 cycles per second the modern tuning referencethe modern tuning reference A440

CycleCycle the distance from one point of maximum or minimum air compression to the nextthe distance from one point of maximum or minimum air compression to the next animation by Edward Wong [i:23] Sine Waves[i:23] Sine Waves Simplest sound wavesSimplest sound waves Harmonics are similar to sine wavesHarmonics are similar to sine waves TIME AIR PRESSURE Sine Wave – One Cycle MAX MIN

Harmonic Series The simple sounds form a pattern at exact whole-number multiples of fundamentalThe simple sounds form a pattern at exact whole-number multiples of fundamental String proportion is reciprocal of frequency ratioString proportion is reciprocal of frequency ratio string length = f = fundamental frequency 1/2string length = 2f 1/3string length = 3f 1/4string length = 4f [i:18] demo on sanxian[i:18] demo on sanxian

OctaveOctave a pitch an octave higher than another has [i:24] double its frequencya pitch an octave higher than another has [i:24] double its frequency Example: 440 Hertz * 2 = 880 HertzExample: 440 Hertz * 2 = 880 Hertz a pitch an octave lower has [i:25] half the frequencya pitch an octave lower has [i:25] half the frequency Example: 440 Hertz *.5 = 220 HertzExample: 440 Hertz *.5 = 220 Hertz A AA

Harmonic Series [i:26] In any harmonic series, the 2nd harmonic is the octave[i:26] In any harmonic series, the 2nd harmonic is the octave For a harmonic series starting on Middle C with a frequency of Hertz, the frequency of the 2nd harmonic (octave) is x 2 = HertzFor a harmonic series starting on Middle C with a frequency of Hertz, the frequency of the 2nd harmonic (octave) is x 2 = Hertz CC …

Harmonic Series Continuing to add produces the other harmonics in the seriesContinuing to add produces the other harmonics in the series Video Example Video Example CCC C G G EBb

PitchPitch ToneTone a musical sound (describes the quality or color of a sound)a musical sound (describes the quality or color of a sound) PitchPitch how high or low musical tones sound (describes the frequency of a sound)how high or low musical tones sound (describes the frequency of a sound) NoteNote a written symbol that shows the pitch and duration of a sounda written symbol that shows the pitch and duration of a sound

PitchPitch pitches and notes use 7 letter names, [i:27] A-Apitches and notes use 7 letter names, [i:27] A-A 7 Letter Names for Pitches and Notes7 Letter Names for Pitches and Notes

AnklungAnklung sets of bamboo shakerssets of bamboo shakers anklung as a secret weapon from Barbara Benary: Karna, a Shadow Puppet Opera, performed by Gamelan Son of Lion anklung as a secret weapon from Barbara Benary: Karna, a Shadow Puppet Opera, performed by Gamelan Son of Lion anklung

American Folk Tune class volunteers play on anklung:class volunteers play on anklung: arr. George Perlman E G E G GE G F A F A A F A F A GC C G G E E D C D E G A G E C DE D C

SourcesSources BooksBooks Turek, The Elements of MusicTurek, The Elements of Music Kamien, Music, An AppreciationKamien, Music, An Appreciation CDsCDs Kamien, Music, An AppreciationKamien, Music, An Appreciation WebWeb