THE MIDDLE C POSITION

M
I
D
D
L
E

F G A B C D E F G
3 3
4 2 2 4
5 5
1
 HOW NOTES MOVE UP AND DOWN THE STAFF

A staff has 5 lines. In between these 5 lines are 4 spaces.

As notes go to its next higher note, they move up the staff in this order:

Line 5
Space 4
Line 4
Space 3
Line 3
Space 2
Line 2
Space 1
Line 1

E F

If Line number 1 represents the note E, the space directly above it

would represent the next higher note which is F.
Line 1 Space 1

A B
If Space number 2 represents the note A, the line directly above it
would represent the next higher note which is B.
Space 2 Line 3
 STEP AND SKIP
(Introduction to Intervals)

Step, skip, leap and repeat are terms to describe different intervals.
An interval describes the distance between two notes.

Space 2
Line 2 Space 1 Line 1

STEP The interval between two notes that are

directly next to each other on the staff

*Also called a 2nd interval

Line 3 Space 2
Line 2 Space 1
SKIP The interval between two notes that have
exactly one note between them on the staff
x x
*Also called a 3rd interval
 LEAP AND REPEAT
(Introduction to Intervals)

Line 2 Space 3 Space 4 Space 2 The interval between two notes that
LEAP have two or more notes between them
x x
x x x
*Range of leaps can be 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th intervals
*An interval of 8 notes is called an octave

Line 2 Line 2 Space 1 Space 1

REPEAT The notes stay exactly in the same place

*An interval between 2 identical notes

is called a unison
 MNEMONICS - TREBLE
Mnemonics in music help us remember the order of letter names in line
and space notes. Treble and Bass staff mnemonics are not the same.

LINE NOTES:

E very G ood B oy D oes F ine

SPACE NOTES:

F A C E
 MNEMONICS - BASS

LINE NOTES:

G ood B oys Do F ine A lways

SPACE NOTES:

A ll C ows E at G rass
 THE C POSITION

M
I
D
D
L
E

C D E F G C D E F G

3 3
4 2 2 4
5 5
1 1
 THE G POSITION

M
I
D
D
L
E

G A B C D G A B C D

3 3
4 2 2 4

5 5
1 1
 INTERVAL NAMES
We describe intervals using numbers depending on
how many letter notes there are between them.

C and D are 2 letter notes apart and is called a 2nd interval.

C and E are 3 letter notes apart and is called a 3rd interval.

C D C (D) E

____ ____

C and F are 4 letter notes apart and is called a 4th interval.

C and G are 5 letter notes apart and is called a 5th interval.
C and A are 6 letter notes apart and is called a 6th interval.
C and B are 7 letter notes apart and is called a 7th interval.

C and the C above it are 8 letter notes apart and is called an octave.

C D E F G A B C

____

Unison 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th Octave

 THE SHARP, FLAT, NATURAL SIGN

The sharp (#) sign raises the note by a semitone.

# A#

A# A

♭
The flat ( ) sign lowers the note by a semitone.

♭ ♭
A

A ♭ A

♮
The natural ( ) sign cancels the effect of sharps or flats.

# ♮ A#

A# A♮ A♮
NOTE NAMES AND VALUES REST NAMES AND VALUES

WHOLE NOTE 4 beats

WHOLE REST 4 beats

. DOTTED HALF NOTE 3 beats

HALF REST 2 beats

HALF NOTE 2 beats

QUARTER REST 1 beat

QUARTER NOTE 1 beat

EIGHTH REST 1/2 beat

EIGHTH NOTE 1/2 beat