chapter 1: the values and characteristics of pitch

pitch pitch

b

A Bb C

FEDCBbAGFED

MIDDLE C

-9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3

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.

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usic

al c

hara

cter

istic

s

nota

tiona

l cha

ract

eris

tics

Pitch is both vertical and horizontal when represented notationally.

b

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.

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2-di

men

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al a

bstr

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

b

A Bb C

FEDCBbAGFED

MIDDLE C

CBbAG

LOW C HIGH C

0 DEGREES

90 DEGREES

180 DEGREES

A Bb

C

GF

E

DA

Bb

GF

ED

C

C

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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.

b#

b

A A AA BbBb GFFD C C

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dim

ensi

onal

abs

trac

tion

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)

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ial c

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s b#

mf

b#

b

single part depth

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

Pitch can exist on multiple levels. In a multi-part musical score it is commonfor two or more parts played by the same instrument to be represented on

the same line. The pitches of the different parts are stacked upon one anothercreating depth.

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b#

mf

b#

b

double part depth

Pitches are directly related to the pitches adjacent to them. The highness or lownessof the pitch depends on the highness or lowness of the pitches played with it. This

allows a single pitch to be dramatically different based on its position within the score.This characteristic creates a wide range of spatial opportunities within the musical notation.

b#

b

the Bb is 1/2 step lower than the Cthat comes before it

the Bb is1-1/2 stepshigher than the F that comes after it

b

the Ab is 1/2step lower thanthe Bb that comesafter it

the Ab is 8 stepslower than the Abthat comes beforeit (one full octave)

spat

ial c

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musical characteristics: pitch musical characteristics: pitch

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