MEASURE
Staff and Measures
Music is written on a STAFF. It has 5 lines and 4 spaces
BARLINE
The staff is divided into MEASURES (or bars) using BARLINES.
Sopranos and altos sing in the TREBLE CLEF Tenors and Basses sing in the BASS CLEF.
*sometimes called the G Clef *sometimes called the F Clef (Sometimes tenors
have to sing in the Treble Clef)
The LINES on the Treble Clef– Staccato
Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
The SPACES on the Treble Clef– F A C E
Short and detached
The LINES on the Bass Clef– Good Basses Date Fine Altos Accent
The SPACES on the Treble Clef– All Cows Eat Grass
A louder sound
When you put the Treble Clef and Bass Clef together, it forms
the GRAND STAFF and lets you find more notes in between the
two.
The musical alphabet only uses seven letters– A B C D E F G
And it repeats over and over...A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G… etc.
Item Note Rest Value Dotted Note Values
4 Beats
3 beats
1 and a half
2 Beats
beats
1 Beat
Two eight notes barred
together equals 1 Beat
1/2 a Beat
TIME SIGNATURE
Top number tells you how many beats per measure (4 beats per measure)
Bottom number tells you what kind of note gets the beat (Quarter note)
Compiled by Oscar Padilla
The method we use to sight-read is called SOLFEGE.
Key Signatures-Flats
A FLAT lowers the pitch 1/2 step.
Do= E
C
The FLAT RULE: The last FLAT on the right is Fa. Fa A
F
Go up or down to find DO Key: Eb
Connects two Connects two
The letter name of Do is your key notes that notes that
(remember to check if you add the flat to the key signature!) are the same are different
Key Signatures-Sharps Extends the
A SHARP raises the pitch 1/2 step. staff up or
down.
Do= D
The SHARP RULE: The last SHARP on the right is Ti. Ti B Ending Bar Line/Double Bar Line
Go up to find DO G
Key: D
The letter name of Do is your key
(remember to check if you add the sharp to the key signature!)
A NATURAL SIGN cancels out a flat or a sharp. Repeat Sign Fermata
Hold until
The “C” RULE: If you see no sharps and you see no flats...the key is C!! (Do=C) director cutoff.
Terms...just some common ones!
Crescendo……………………………..gradually get louder pp (Pianissimo)-Very Soft sfz (Sforzando)-
p (Piano)-Soft Suddenly Loud
Decrescendo………………….………..gradually get softer mp (Mezzo Piano)-Medium Soft sub. (Subito)-Suddenly
mf (Mezzo Forte)-Medium Loud Staccato-Short and
Ritardando (rit./rall.)…………..…..gradually get slower f (Forte)-Loud Detached
ff (Fortissimo)-Very Loud Legato-Smooth and
Diminish (dim.)……………………..gradually get softer
connected
Compiled by Oscar Padilla
