Basic Music Series
Lesson I.7 Chromatics
I.7
Review 1.6
Rhythmic Notation
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Music is separated into "bars" with a set number of beats or pulses.
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4/4 tells us there are four pulses per bar and a quarter note represents one full pulse or beat.
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The system of music notation is based on mathematical proportions: whole, half, quarter, eighth and sixteenth notes.
These values may divide the musical bar in any combination as long as each beat is represented by a tone or a silence.
I.7
Chromatics
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Between the harmonic series and using perfect fifths to find new notes, the western scale settles on twelve chromatic steps and seven natural notes between each octave.
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These are represented by the twelve total keys (white and black) between the octaves on a piano.
I.7
Enharmonics
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A# is not the same as Bb, but it is close enough that we don't mind using the same pitch for both notes.
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On the piano, if I raise the pitch A one half step I play the same key as if I lowered B one half step. So A# and Bb are the same key, but not the same note.
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For the voice and string instruments, this is not a problem, but when creating keyboard instrument and limited by 10 human fingers and logistical space, we had to make some choices.
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Therefore, in today's system, A# and Bb are regarded as the same note in the majority of performances.
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However, when you hear the top orchestras in the world play, you will hear the difference between A# and Bb.
I.7
Whole Steps and Half Steps
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The half step is the smallest musical unit and the whole step the second to smallest.
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A whole step is synonymous with "major second" and a half step with "minor second".
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Each fret on a guitar is a half step just as every key on a piano (black and white).
