Week 3
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Objectives:
Equal Temperament Intonation/Tuning Scales/Modes |
Assignments:
DUE (from last class) : Instrumentation GB Homework DUE (Old) : Signed Syllabus New (Due next Class) : Scale/Notation Homework |
Equal Temperament
- Equal Temperament is the Tuning System we use in Modern Western Music (not to be confused with Country-Western!)
We must first Understand Temperament
As we Can see from the first Paragraph, When defining/discussing temperament, we can get very Mathematical and Scientific very quickly!
This is because when dealing with music/the arrangement of musical pitches, we are talking about a sound wave, or a logarithm of frequency
Unit of Measurement
SoundWaves are measured in Hertz (Hz)
(think inches/feet for distance,
Litres/Milliliters for liquid/volume
lbs./kgs/ for weight ETC)
Hertz for Sound!
Hz = 1 Cycle Per Second
Example Video:
20Hz to 20kHz
SoundWaves are measured in Hertz (Hz)
(think inches/feet for distance,
Litres/Milliliters for liquid/volume
lbs./kgs/ for weight ETC)
Hertz for Sound!
Hz = 1 Cycle Per Second
Example Video:
20Hz to 20kHz
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Octave
Last class we learned about the octave (So fresh so clean line) Octave = The same note in a different Range Activity: Using Research/Sources, Fill in where the " C " is on the worksheet |
Class Activity 1:
Take 2 Minutes and using research/sources fill in where the C's are on your Keyboard Sheet |
So in simple terms, Temperament is how we choose to divide the notes between octaves
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One way to visualize this is to look at your keyboard
How many notes to you see between the 2 C's (or, how many notes do you see in one octave) |
Class Activity 2:
Using research/sources, fill in the rest of the notes names with their respective key on the keyboard. (Fill in 2 Octaves! You will use this for your HW)
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Each octave is divided into a series of SEMI-TONES OR HALF STEPS
One Keyboard Key (note) = Semi-tone/Half Step
i.e. Each note is 1 Half Step away from the next
Equal Temperament means the twelve notes in an octave are separated/divided in an equal ratio
FORMULA FOR A HALF STEP
One Keyboard Key (note) = Semi-tone/Half Step
i.e. Each note is 1 Half Step away from the next
- 2 Half Steps = Whole Step
Equal Temperament means the twelve notes in an octave are separated/divided in an equal ratio
FORMULA FOR A HALF STEP
The different Temperaments Vary depending on how much space is between each half Step
(I.E. THERE IS A DIFFERENT FORMULA FOR EACH TEMPERAMENT - DIFFERENT FROM THE 1.0595 RATIO
Musical Examples in Different Temperaments
(I.E. THERE IS A DIFFERENT FORMULA FOR EACH TEMPERAMENT - DIFFERENT FROM THE 1.0595 RATIO
Musical Examples in Different Temperaments
Intonation / Musical Tuning
One reason this is important is for Tuning / Intonation
Observing this will be an important part of you job as engineers!
Music intonation in short:
If we are recording together , you are playing guitar and I am playing Trumpet, and we are both playing an 'A', but your A is at 440Hz and my A is at 445Hz, this will sound BAD !
Example: Tone Generator
This is a tone generator where we specify Hz and it produces a tone.
There are two type of intonation you will come across:
Observing this will be an important part of you job as engineers!
Music intonation in short:
If we are recording together , you are playing guitar and I am playing Trumpet, and we are both playing an 'A', but your A is at 440Hz and my A is at 445Hz, this will sound BAD !
Example: Tone Generator
This is a tone generator where we specify Hz and it produces a tone.
There are two type of intonation you will come across:
1. Tuning Your Instrument
- If you have ever been to an orchestra performance you have probably seen something like this
- All instruments in a performance must have a starting reference point to get their instrument in tune
- In the USA we tune our instruments to A 440 Hz
Stringed Instruments:
On a string instrument (anything where the sound comes from strings - guitar, violin, cello, mandolin, bass guitar, piano etc.) the sound is generated by a string being plucked and moving so fast it creates sound waves. The pitch is defined by the tension of the string.
Tighter string = Faster Vibration/soundwaves = Higher Hz = Higher pitch
(And Vice Versa!)
All stringed instruments have a mechanism for adjusting the tension of their strings.
Wind Instrument:
On a wind Instrument (anything that is a horn you blow into - brass, woodwinds, bag pipes, etc) the sound is generated by vibration of your lips, or the vibration of a reed . The pitch is defined by the length of the horn.
Shorter Horn = faster vibration/soundwaves = higher Hz = Higher Pitch
( And Vice Versa )
Keep In mind that a very minor adjustment to string tension/horn length can make a very big difference to the intonation/Hz
On a string instrument (anything where the sound comes from strings - guitar, violin, cello, mandolin, bass guitar, piano etc.) the sound is generated by a string being plucked and moving so fast it creates sound waves. The pitch is defined by the tension of the string.
Tighter string = Faster Vibration/soundwaves = Higher Hz = Higher pitch
(And Vice Versa!)
All stringed instruments have a mechanism for adjusting the tension of their strings.
Wind Instrument:
On a wind Instrument (anything that is a horn you blow into - brass, woodwinds, bag pipes, etc) the sound is generated by vibration of your lips, or the vibration of a reed . The pitch is defined by the length of the horn.
Shorter Horn = faster vibration/soundwaves = higher Hz = Higher Pitch
( And Vice Versa )
Keep In mind that a very minor adjustment to string tension/horn length can make a very big difference to the intonation/Hz
2. Tuning with the other instruments during performance
This type of tuning is dependent on the musician listening for intonation during the performance, and adjusting to the other instruments in the performance Which is an acquired skill, and sometimes never acquired by some musicians!
- There is a LONG LIST of factors that can affect the tuning of your instrument even after it is in tune at the beginning of the session
- There are different ways on each instrument to affect the intonation without adjusting the tuning slide/string tension . This varies from instrument to instrument
This type of tuning is dependent on the musician listening for intonation during the performance, and adjusting to the other instruments in the performance Which is an acquired skill, and sometimes never acquired by some musicians!
Scales/Modes and Intervals/Chords
So with temperament, we are discussing single pitches and how they are divided among many ranges
(visual - single keys and how they are divided on the keyboard low to high)
With scales and intervals, we are discussing which notes sound good or right TOGETHER
Example
Some notes do not sound good/right together (they sound random)
(Play Unstable Intervals)
Some notes sound good or right together
(Play Stable Intervals)
These are divided into two groups:
Scales/Modes
Groups of notes that sound good together when sounding separately/in succession
Intervals/Chords
Groups of notes sounding simultaneously
(visual - single keys and how they are divided on the keyboard low to high)
With scales and intervals, we are discussing which notes sound good or right TOGETHER
Example
Some notes do not sound good/right together (they sound random)
(Play Unstable Intervals)
Some notes sound good or right together
(Play Stable Intervals)
These are divided into two groups:
Scales/Modes
Groups of notes that sound good together when sounding separately/in succession
Intervals/Chords
Groups of notes sounding simultaneously
Scales/Modes
Scales and Modes are Groups of notes that sound good / right when played one by one or in succession
The Idea of a group of notes that sound right together comes from the Ancient Greeks
- Doctrine of Ethos / Greek Modes -
For this class we will learn the 3 most common scales
Chromatic Scale
Major Scale
Minor Scale
The biggest ways these Scales Differ is in how much space is between each note
The Idea of a group of notes that sound right together comes from the Ancient Greeks
- Doctrine of Ethos / Greek Modes -
For this class we will learn the 3 most common scales
Chromatic Scale
Major Scale
Minor Scale
The biggest ways these Scales Differ is in how much space is between each note
Chromatic Scale
This is the easiest scale to remember!
The Chromatic scale is measured in half steps, and hits every note on the keyboard
Chromatic Scale
As you can tell by the sound, this is not a scale we hear commonly in musical performance (a song) but something used most commonly in practice of instruments
Since the Scales differ by how much space is between each note, we can create a formula for each scale using Hole Steps and Half Steps.
The Formula for a chromatic scale is the easiest, since it only moves in half steps
H=Half Step W=Whole Step
Chromatic Scale Formula:
Starting note, H , H, H, H, H , H, H, H, H ......etc
Class Activity 3: write the notes (letter names) for a chromatic scale going from C to C
The Chromatic scale is measured in half steps, and hits every note on the keyboard
Chromatic Scale
As you can tell by the sound, this is not a scale we hear commonly in musical performance (a song) but something used most commonly in practice of instruments
Since the Scales differ by how much space is between each note, we can create a formula for each scale using Hole Steps and Half Steps.
The Formula for a chromatic scale is the easiest, since it only moves in half steps
H=Half Step W=Whole Step
Chromatic Scale Formula:
Starting note, H , H, H, H, H , H, H, H, H ......etc
Class Activity 3: write the notes (letter names) for a chromatic scale going from C to C
Major/Minor Scales
- The Major Scale and Minor Scales are the 2 most common scales we see today in music
- Generally, songs are based around ONE SPECIFIC major or minor key which we call a KEY CENTER
- Along with being the most common scales, they are also very distinct sounding to the ear
- Many times these are associated with Happy (major) and Sad (minor) emotions. This is a remnant of the greek modes the belief that certain note groups bring about specific emotions
Major Scale Formula:
Starting Note, W, W, H, W, W, W, H
Class Activity 4: Write the notes (letter names) for a Major scale from C to C - This would be called a C Major scale.
Use your keyboard that is filled out and count the Half / Whole Steps
Minor Scale Formula:
Startin Note, W, H, W, W, H, W W
Class Activity 5: Write the notes (letter Names) for a Minor Scale from C to C - This would be called a C Minor Scale
Notation Practice
Class Activity 6 : Write out a chromatic scale, in the treble clef, going 2 octaves on the staffs provided on the worksheet. You should use quarter notes. Feel free to label each note with a letter name below the staff as you will refer to this later. This can be done with simple research (notes on staff letter name treble clef)
Scale/Notation Homework
Due Next Class 9/27
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This assignment will serve 2 purposes :
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Assignment:
Using the manuscript document that can be downloaded below(you will need to print 2 sheet), you will write out 6 major scales, and 6 minor scales . You will use quarter notes and write in the treble clef. You may choose any starting note (any scale) but you cannot repeat starting notes. You should write the letter names below where they are on the staff (just like chromatic scale) |
Instructions :
All the information you need to do this assignment is on the worksheet from class. Use the Keyboard with letter names to measure out the steps in the scale formulas , and use the chromatic scale written on the staff as your guide for which note goes on which line/space.
Hint* :try to figure it out using the scale formulas (not just copying off google) as you will be quizzed on this!!
All the information you need to do this assignment is on the worksheet from class. Use the Keyboard with letter names to measure out the steps in the scale formulas , and use the chromatic scale written on the staff as your guide for which note goes on which line/space.
Hint* :try to figure it out using the scale formulas (not just copying off google) as you will be quizzed on this!!
| notation_scale_homework.pdf |