Chapter 1: The Values and Characteristics of Pitch

chapter 1: the values and characteristics of pitch

pitch

MIDDLE C

pitch value

-9

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

b

A

musical characteristics

-8

Bb

C

D

E

F

G

A

-1

Bb

2

1

C

D

3

E

F

Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of a note on a given scale.

Pitch cannot exist without notes and keys.

Notes determine the length each pitch will be held for.

Without notes, the length and therefore the pitch, would not exist.

The key signature determines the pitches that will be used within the piece.

It also singles out the "accidentals", which occur when a pitch not included in the key is written into the piece.

pitch value

Pitch is both vertical and horizontal when represented notationally.

b

notational characteristics

Pitch is characterized by a linear progression from left to right.

b

Pitch is also characterized by consistant vertical movement based on the highness or lowness of the pitch.

pitch value

When abstracted, pitch determines the verticality or horizontality of the line.

MIDDLE C

b

A

C

Bb

F

E

D

A

G

Bb

E

D

C

F

G

A

HIGH C

LOW C

2-dimensional abstraction

C

Bb

Within each scale , there are a total of 180 degrees.

Middle-c sits at the 90 degree mark, and low-c and high-c occur at 0 degrees and 180 degrees, respectively.

90 DEGREES C G F E 0 DEGREES

A

Bb

D

E

F G A

D

Bb

C

C

180 DEGREES

pitch value

# b

A

Bb D F C

As pitch is abstracted into a 2-dimensional line drawing, the vertical and horizontal lines move along a central axis (the x-axis, in traditional cartesian coordinate systems).

The length of the interval between pitches, or between lines on the drawing, is determined by the length of the note. (see section 3: Note Value 2-dimensional abstraction)

C Bb F

G

A

A

A

2-dimensional abstraction

b

pitch value

Pitch is inherently structural. Without pitch, the notes, keys, accidentals and inections would fall apart.

Pitch can exist on multiple levels. In a multi-part musical score it is common for two or more parts played by the same instrument to be represented on the same line. The pitches of the dierent parts are stacked upon one another creating depth. single part depth # b b

#

spatial characteristics

b

mf

# b b

# b

mf

double part depth

b

pitch value

Pitches are directly related to the pitches adjacent to them. The highness or lowness of the pitch depends on the highness or lowness of the pitches played with it. This allows a single pitch to be dramatically dierent based on its position within the score.

This characteristic creates a wide range of spatial opportunities within the musical notation.

#

spatial characteristics

b

b the Bb is 1/2 step lower than the C that comes before it

the Bb is 1-1/2 steps higher than the F that comes after it

the Ab is 1/2 step lower than the Bb that comes after it

the Ab is 8 steps lower than the Ab that comes before it (one full octave)

pitch value

1

musical characteristics: pitch