Music Theory Anthony Bianchi 10 th -12 th grade Monday Dec 6 th 2004.

Music TheoryMusic Theory

Anthony BianchiAnthony Bianchi

1010thth -12 -12thth grade grade

Monday Dec 6Monday Dec 6thth 2004 2004

Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda

Review Treble Clef and Bass Clef.Review Treble Clef and Bass Clef. New material: Learn Alto Clef and New material: Learn Alto Clef and

Tenor Tenor Clef in the same way.Clef in the same way. Practice note identifying on the Practice note identifying on the

board.board.

The Treble ClefThe Treble Clef

Treble ClefTreble Clef

Notice that The Notice that The Treble Clef (like Treble Clef (like any clef) is on a any clef) is on a five lined staff. five lined staff.

In between any two In between any two consecutive lines, consecutive lines, four spaces are four spaces are created. created.

We will go into the We will go into the note names in a note names in a little bit.little bit.

Treble Clef ContinuedTreble Clef Continued

Notice that this picture Notice that this picture of The Treble Clef has of The Treble Clef has a red bolded 2a red bolded 2ndnd line. line. This signifies the This signifies the secondary name of secondary name of this clef known as the this clef known as the “G Clef”. The reason “G Clef”. The reason for this is because part for this is because part of the clef circles of the clef circles around the line that around the line that the note “G” is on.the note “G” is on.

Treble Clef continuedTreble Clef continued

The lines on the The lines on the treble clef are treble clef are (from bottom to (from bottom to top) top)

E-G-B-D-F and the E-G-B-D-F and the spaces are (from spaces are (from bottom to top) bottom to top) F-A-C-E. F-A-C-E.

Thus creating E-F-Thus creating E-F-G-A-B-C-D-E-FG-A-B-C-D-E-F

The Bass ClefThe Bass Clef

Bass Clef ContinuedBass Clef Continued

This picture of The This picture of The Bass Clef has a Bass Clef has a highlighted 4th highlighted 4th line. The reason is line. The reason is because the line because the line that the note “F” that the note “F” falls on is between falls on is between the two dots of the the two dots of the clef. clef.

The Bass Clef ContinuedThe Bass Clef Continued

The Lines on The The Lines on The Bass Clef are Bass Clef are G-B-D-F-A.G-B-D-F-A.

The Spaces are The Spaces are A-C-E-G. A-C-E-G.

Thus Creating Thus Creating G-A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A.G-A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A.

The Tenor ClefThe Tenor Clef

The Tenor Clef continuedThe Tenor Clef continued

The Tenor Clef has The Tenor Clef has a red highlighted a red highlighted 44thth line. Since the line. Since the fourth line on The fourth line on The Tenor Clef is C, Tenor Clef is C, This clef is known This clef is known as as aa C Clef. You will C Clef. You will understand why I understand why I said “a” C Clef in said “a” C Clef in just a moment.just a moment.

The Tenor Clef continuedThe Tenor Clef continued

The lines on The The lines on The Tenor Clef are Tenor Clef are D-F-A-C-E.D-F-A-C-E.

The spaces are The spaces are therefore E-G-B-D.therefore E-G-B-D.

Thus creating Thus creating D-E-F-G-A-B-C-D-ED-E-F-G-A-B-C-D-E

This clef is rarely This clef is rarely used.used.

Interesting factInteresting fact The Tenor Clef was used so that tenors The Tenor Clef was used so that tenors

didn’t have to think about ledger line note didn’t have to think about ledger line note names when they were singing. However, names when they were singing. However, being a Tenor, I think its funny because if being a Tenor, I think its funny because if we have to sing a high G, which is normal, we have to sing a high G, which is normal, we have to read it on a ledger line. Tenors we have to read it on a ledger line. Tenors usually read The Treble Clef an octave usually read The Treble Clef an octave lower than written or The Bass Clef on lower than written or The Bass Clef on about a 50-50 basis I have yet to see the about a 50-50 basis I have yet to see the Tenor clef used in music. If we wanted to Tenor clef used in music. If we wanted to do that it would be easier to read of The do that it would be easier to read of The Alto Clef. Since high G is the top line. (but Alto Clef. Since high G is the top line. (but that’s just me) that’s just me)

The Alto ClefThe Alto Clef

The Alto Clef ContinuedThe Alto Clef Continued The Alto Clef has it’s 3The Alto Clef has it’s 3rdrd

line highlighted red. line highlighted red. This Signifies also that This Signifies also that it is a C Clef. However, it is a C Clef. However, The Tenor Clef is also a The Tenor Clef is also a C Clef. So since the C Clef. So since the viola is the only viola is the only instrument that uses instrument that uses this clef more regularly this clef more regularly than any other than any other instrument, this clef has instrument, this clef has become known as the become known as the Viola Clef.Viola Clef.

The Alto Clef continuedThe Alto Clef continued

The Lines on The The Lines on The Alto Clef are F-A-C-Alto Clef are F-A-C-E-G. I use the E-G. I use the anagram Funny-anagram Funny-Alto-Clefs-Eat-Alto-Clefs-Eat-Gunk. Gunk.

The spaces are The spaces are G-B-D-F. G-B-D-F.

Thus creating Thus creating F-G-A-B-C-D-E-F-G.F-G-A-B-C-D-E-F-G.

QuestionQuestion

Which one is Which one is which?which?

AnswerAnswer

The top one was the Tenor Clef.The top one was the Tenor Clef.

The similaritiesThe similarities They both look the They both look the

same just that the same just that the tenor is tenor is higherhigher up. up. I remember that I remember that the tenor is the the tenor is the higherhigher male voice male voice and the alto is the and the alto is the lower female voice. lower female voice. However, i see how However, i see how that can be that can be confusing in the confusing in the SATB format. SATB format.

The differences The differences As I mentioned, there As I mentioned, there

are few ways of telling are few ways of telling the Alto and Tenor clef the Alto and Tenor clef apart I like these two apart I like these two pictures because they pictures because they both have the 4both have the 4thth line line highlighted These are highlighted These are the bass and tenor clefs. the bass and tenor clefs. That’s easy because That’s easy because generallygenerally basses and basses and tenors are tenors are malemale voices. voices. ((generallygenerally yes but not in yes but not in my church choir)my church choir)

GOODBYE!GOODBYE!