Basic Musical Notation

So what do all the lines and symbols MEAN?

It’s simple...

The TOP set of lines (and the spaces between them) represent keys to the RIGHT of
middle C on your piano that are often played with the RIGHT HAND. (The symbol )

The BOTTOM set of lines (and the spaces between them) represent keys to the LEFT
of middle C that are often played with your LEFT HAND. (The symbol )

The two sets of lines are ‘split’ at MIDDLE C - which is indicated by a separate small
line either below the Right Hand lines or above the Left Hand lines

The two sets of lines (and spaces) are known as ‘Staves’

C (Middle)
Or look at it this way

G
This symbol
is called a
‘Treble Clef’
RIGHT HAND
Middle C

?
LEFT HAND
This symbol
is called a
‘Bass Clef’

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 JUST LIKE READING A BOOK

We read music in the same way that we read the sentences of a novel –
from the left of the page to the right.

Getting back to our ‘dots’ on the Lines and Spaces. As we scan from left to right
we play those keys (notes) that the dots on the Lines and Spaces represent.

Should there be SEVERAL dots (notes) in the SAME VERTICAL PLANE we

must play these keys SIMULTANEOUSLY.

Read from left to right

Order of play 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

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 BARS & BEATS

To make music easier to follow it is divided into segments called BARS.

BARS are divided into BEATS.

The most commonly used rhythm is 4 BEATS in EACH BAR. = 1 BEAT

US = Quarter Note
UK = Crotchet
BAR BAR

Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

A beat with a ‘hook’ on it is a HALF BEAT.

You could play up to 8 half beats in each bar. = 1/2 BEAT
US = Eighth Note
UK = Quaver

To make half beats easier to write out, if there are two, three or four in a row they
are grouped together by joining the hooks of their tails.

So 8 HALF beats are written:

Count 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and

Notice that half beats are counted with the use of the word ‘and’ (or the symbol +).
This means we don’t have to start counting out too many numbers.

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Notes can be HELD for 2 beats (hold each note DOWN for 2 beats) = 2 BEATS
US = Half Note
UK = Minum

Count ( 1 2) (3 4) (1 2) (3 4)

Notes can be HELD for 4 beats (hold each note DOWN for 4 beats) = 4 BEATS
US = Whole Note
UK = Semibreve

Count ( 1 2 3 4) (1 2 3 4)

Periods of silence are shown by symbols called RESTS.

1 Beat 2 Beat 1/2 Beat 4 Beat

Rest Rest Rest Rest

Count 1 2 3 (4) 1 2 (3 4) 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 (+) (1 2 3 4)

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 MEMORISING THE LINES AND SPACES

I’m sure everyone has heard the phrase “Every Good Boy Deserves Football”
and of course this is used to help memorise the lines of the Right Hand staff in
musical notation.

This really IS the best way to do it. There is a special ‘Note Finder’ on the next
page which you can print out but it is still best to use your memory.

Here are the usual tricks.. Check this on your NOTE FINDER on the next page

RIGHT HAND LINES Every Good Boy Deserves Football

RIGHT HAND SPACES FACE

LEFT HAND LINES Good Boys Don’t Frighten Animals

LEFT HAND SPACES A C E Garage

Then notice that the Lines and Spaces above and below the Right Hand
lines have the same pattern. This is the same for the Left Hand.

USE ALL THE C NOTES AS ROUGH GUIDES

To begin with, I will write in the names of the notes for you but you STILL
have to know WHERE each note is. If you memorise the position of the C
notes. this will help you ‘get your bearings’.

C C C C C

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 NOTE FINDER
Print this out
D
C B
A

G
G
F
D E
B C
G A
E F
D
C
A B
G
MIDDLE C
F
E
D
C

?
B
A
F G
D E
B C
G A
F
E
D
C
B
The position of the C’s

C C C C C
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