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Pitch Notation

Definition

Pitch notation refers to the system of representing musical pitches using letters and symbols. It allows musicians to read and write music accurately.

Analogy

Think of pitch notation as a musical language, like reading sheet music is reading a different language. Just like how letters form words in a sentence, pitch notation uses symbols to represent specific pitches in music.

Related terms

Clef: A clef is a symbol placed at the beginning of a staff that determines the pitch range of the notes on that staff.

Ledger Lines: Ledger lines are short horizontal lines added above or below the staff to extend its range for notes that fall outside the staff's normal range.

Accidentals: Accidentals are symbols used to alter the pitch of a note by raising or lowering it by a half step. Examples include sharps (#), flats (♭), and naturals (♮).

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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.