The beginning of learning a musical instrument includes building a basis with essential elements such as notes , scales , chords and more. These foundations form the core of musical understanding and ability and serve as building blocks for advanced skills and techniques.
Understanding and mastering these foundations is crucial for every prospective musician, since they form the basis for the development of their own style and expression.
Musical grades
Music notes are symbols that are used to represent the pitch and the duration of a sound in music. They are the basic elements on the way to the piano learning and the be -the -written music, since they enable the composers to convey how a piece of music should be played or sung.
photo of Jakub żerdzicki @jakubzerdzicki, via unsplash
In the following you will find a more detailed explanation and some examples:
Understand musical notes
pitch
Each note stands for a certain pitch, ie the frequency of the sound. The pitch determines how high or deep the sound is. If you press a button to the left on a piano, a lower pitch (e.g. a deep "C") is created, while a button on the right produces a higher pitch (e.g. a high "C").
notation
The grades are written in a grading system consisting of five lines and four spaces. Each line and space stands for a different pitch called letters (A to G).
The grade on the second line of the violin key system is a "G".
photo by Marius Masalar @marius, via Unsplash
Ton length / duration
The shape and components of a grade determine their duration, ie how long the grade should be kept. A whole grade (a circle) is kept four strokes long, half a note (a circle with a handle) two strokes long, a quarter note (a filled circle with a stem) long and so on.
Main book lines
When grades go beyond the area of the standard notes system, the grading system is expanded by small lines, so-called auxiliary lines. A “middle C” is often shown on the piano with an auxiliary line below the violin key or above the bass key.
Crosses and BS
These symbols are used to lift or lower the pitch of a grade to take a half -tone step. A "cis" (c♯) is a half tone higher than C, and a "b" (b ♭) is a half -tone lower than B.
Scales
A scale is a result of notes that are ordered according to their pitch or frequency. If these notes are arranged from the lowest to the highest pitch, it is an ascending scale.
On the other hand, if they are arranged by the highest to the lowest pitch, one speaks of a descending scale. Clay conductors are the basis of music theory and serve as building blocks for melodies and harmonies.
More about musical scales
Types of scales
There are different types of scales, each with a unique pattern of intervals (the distance between the notes). The most common are major and minor ladders.
- Dur-ton ladders : You have a certain pattern of full and half-tone steps (intervals) and create a sound that is often perceived as happy or bright.
- Moll-Tonleiter : These scales have a different interval pattern that gives them a sound that is often described as sad or melancholic.
Scale degrees
- Each note in a scale has a certain position called the degree of scale. The first and eighth grade are the same grade in an eight -tone (octave) scale, but in different pitches (higher or deeper).
- Skalen levels have names such as tonic (first grade), dominant (fifth grade) etc., each playing a special role in the music composition.
Musical chords
A musical chord is essentially a group of grades played at the same time that create a harmonious sound. This stratification of tones is often constructed on the basis of overlaps - intervals that extend over three grades of the scale.
The identity and character of a chord are determined by two key factors: its basic tone and its quality. a detailed explanation of the structure of chords with shaving images at Jürg Hochweber .
Understanding a music chord
Basic tone
The basic tone is the basic tone of the chord that gives the chord its name. With a C major chord, for example, the grade C is the basic tone.
Chord quality
The quality of a chord (e.g. major, minor, reduced, excessive) is defined by the intervals between the notes, starting from the basic tone. This quality determines the overall sound and the emotional tone of the chord.
- Dur chords : They are created by a large third and a pure fifth above the basic tone and create a bright or happy sound.
- Moll chords : are formed with a small third and a perfect fifth and create a sad or dark tone.
- Reduced and excessive chords : This chords have changed quint intervals (reduced fifth or excessive fifth) and create a feeling of tension or instability.
Usual chord types
- In addition to major and minor, there are also extended chords such as septims , nons and suspended chords , each producing further sound layers and complexity.
Final thoughts
The basic elements of music - notes, scales and chords - are the first and most important concepts that every prospective musician begins to learn. These foundations form the cornerstone of musical training and intertwine into the language of music.
Understanding how these elements work together is of crucial importance for everyone who embarks on a musical journey - be it for fun or for professional reasons.
They not only deliver the tools to create and interpret music, but also open the door to a deeper appreciation of the art form.
Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.
