I've tried to put together a very brief article explain how to interpret sheet music. There isn't too much information to learn, but synthesizing it in real-time can be quite a challenge. To make this easier to understand, I've put together some drawings, this will make it much easier to understand what I'm talking about. Sheet music figures.
From the sheet music the first thing you should look for at the beginning of each piece is the time signature, which looks like two numbers stacked vertically. The top number tells you how many beats in a measure, and the bottom tells which note equals one beat. For example 6/8 means that there are six eighth notes per measure. If you look on through the music, you'll see each measure separated by lines drawn across the line.
Along with the clef, you may see a collection of sharp signs or flat signs. This is the key signature. Seeing a flat sign on a space, for example, literally means to play the flat every time you see a note on that space. The whole collection gives you some idea of which key you're playing in, for example 2 sharps is D-major or B-minor, and 3-flats is A-flat major or F-minor.
In the rest of the piece, each symbol tells you two things about a note: it's pitch and its duration. The location of the note tells the pitch, in the treble clef, starting from the bottom line, the notes are EFGABCDEF where F is the top line. In the bass clef, the notes are GABCDEFGA where A is the top line. You'll need to have this memorized really well to be able to play in real time.
Each note can be made sharp or flat by the sharp or flat sign. A sharp means that you play one half step higher (usually the next black key) a flat means that you play one half step lower. For notes that don't have an adjacent black key, you just play the next white one, so E sharp is also called F, and C flat is also called B. It is also allowed to have double sharps or flats, but you'll rarely see these.
Finally we can talk about rhythm. I've made a short rhythm video which is much easier to understand than a description. Basically, you find out which note is one beat from the time signature, and then you have to time everything else accordingly.
Well there you have your basics in less than 500 words, good luck with your music learning. - 32526
From the sheet music the first thing you should look for at the beginning of each piece is the time signature, which looks like two numbers stacked vertically. The top number tells you how many beats in a measure, and the bottom tells which note equals one beat. For example 6/8 means that there are six eighth notes per measure. If you look on through the music, you'll see each measure separated by lines drawn across the line.
Along with the clef, you may see a collection of sharp signs or flat signs. This is the key signature. Seeing a flat sign on a space, for example, literally means to play the flat every time you see a note on that space. The whole collection gives you some idea of which key you're playing in, for example 2 sharps is D-major or B-minor, and 3-flats is A-flat major or F-minor.
In the rest of the piece, each symbol tells you two things about a note: it's pitch and its duration. The location of the note tells the pitch, in the treble clef, starting from the bottom line, the notes are EFGABCDEF where F is the top line. In the bass clef, the notes are GABCDEFGA where A is the top line. You'll need to have this memorized really well to be able to play in real time.
Each note can be made sharp or flat by the sharp or flat sign. A sharp means that you play one half step higher (usually the next black key) a flat means that you play one half step lower. For notes that don't have an adjacent black key, you just play the next white one, so E sharp is also called F, and C flat is also called B. It is also allowed to have double sharps or flats, but you'll rarely see these.
Finally we can talk about rhythm. I've made a short rhythm video which is much easier to understand than a description. Basically, you find out which note is one beat from the time signature, and then you have to time everything else accordingly.
Well there you have your basics in less than 500 words, good luck with your music learning. - 32526
About the Author:
Mike Eggers is the Author of many articles for students who want to Learn Piano. He has also written several reviews of products like Pure Pitch Review.
