Lesson Tutor : Elements of Music Notation

Miscellaneous Notes About Music Notation
by Elaine Ernst Schneider and Joanne Mikola

The order of writing an opening staff is always the same : Clef first, Key signature second, followed by the Time signature. If there are more than one staffs in the piece of music, the time signature will not reappear unless there is a time change.

Accidentals

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

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