Chapter 2: Rhythm and Pitch Pitch. Key Terms Pitch Scale Interval Octave Diatonic scale Chromatic scale Flat Sharp Half step Whole step Playing in tune.

Chapter 2:Rhythm and Pitch

Pitch

Key Terms

Pitch

Scale

Interval

Octave

Diatonic scale

Chromatic scale

Flat

Sharp

Half step

Whole step

Playing in tune

Pitch

Aspects of pitchDefinite or indefinite

High or low

Most music draws from a pool of definite pitches, or a scale

The distance between any two notes is called an interval

Intervals

OctaveSpecial interval relationship

Upper note seems to duplicate lower note, though its pitch is higher

Very smooth blend derives from overtone series; octave is the first overtone

Men and women singing a tune together normally sing in octaves

Intervals

StepStep is a small interval

Usually the distance between adjacent notes of a scale

Two sizes: half step and whole step

Scale steps are specific notes of a scale • e.g., scale step 1 (do) or scale step 5 (sol)

Suggests a ladder; discrete pitches, not entire pitch continuum

Intervals

Half step (semitone)The smallest interval in most Western music

The interval between any two consecutive notes of the chromatic scale

On a keyboard, the distance between any note and the note nearest to it, black or white

Intervals

Whole stepThe most common interval found in diatonic scales

Same distance as two consecutive half steps

Scales

Collections of pitches used to construct melodies or entire pieces

Diatonic scales typical of Western music• Contain seven notes in each octave

Chromatic scale uses all notes on the piano keyboard

• Contains twelve notes in each octave

Modern music and world music use many other scales

Diatonic Scales

Contain seven different pitchesSeven letter names (ABCDEFG) originated with diatonic scalesOctave (eighth note of scale) repeats the starting letter nameContains both whole steps (5) and half steps (2); asymmetricalGood examples include major scales (do re mi fa sol la ti do), minor scales, and church modes

Diatonic Scales

Chromatic Scale

Contains twelve different pitches; uses all black and white keys in each octave

Consists entirely of half steps; symmetrical

Requires sharps or flats to notate black keys

Developed later than diatonic scales, filling in whole steps with half steps

Chromatic Scale

Sharps and Flats

The flat lowers a note by a half step

The sharp raises a note by a half step

Diatonic vs. Chromatic

Scales and Instruments

Western instruments are designed to play diatonic and chromatic scales

Musicians learn to play in tune

Many instrument can bend pitches• A little: flute, clarinet, saxophone, guitar• A lot: voice, trombone, violin, cello, timpani

Some cannot• Piano, harpsichord, xylophone

Listening

Chromatic scale

Diatonic scales

Non-Western scales