5. Pitch
Identifying Pitch Classes on a Keyboard Diagram
Several of the keys on the keyboard diagram below have dots on them. Identify the pitch class represented by each of these keys by writing its name (i.e., Eb, G#, etc.) on the blank line provided. Note that there may be more than one correct answer for each key.
Identifying Intervals
Each of the keyboard diagrams below has two dots. Identify the interval formed by the two indicated keys as either a semitone or an octave.
semitone
semitone
octave
semitone
octave
semitone
Identifying Notes (without accidentals)
Identify the pitch of each note on the following staves by writing its name on the line provided.
Writing Notes (without accidentals)
For each of the letter names in the exercises that follow, write a note with the indicated pitch on the blank staff above. Write your answer as a quarter note and make sure the stem is pointing in the correct direction. Avoid using ledger lines for now. (Some of the letters will have more than one correct answer.)
Identifying Notes (with accidentals)
Identify the pitch of each note on the following staves by writing its name on the line provided.
Writing Notes (with accidentals)
For each of the letter names in the exercises that follow, write a note with the indicated pitch on the blank staff above. Write your answer as a quarter note and make sure the stem is pointing in the correct direction. Avoid using ledger lines for now. (Some of the letters will have more than one correct answer.) Make sure any accidentals are properly aligned with the notehead they affect.
Identifying Notes (scientific pitch notation)
Identify the pitch of each note on the following grand staves by writing its scientific name (e.g., G#5 or Bb2) A on the line provided.
Writing Notes (scientific pitch notation)
For each of the scientific pitch names below, write a quarter note on the appropriate line or space of the grand staff. Write pitches higher than middle C on the upper staff and pitches below than middle C on the lower staff. (Write middle C itself on either staff.) Make sure the stems of all notes are pointing in the right direction.
Identifying Notes in a Melody
Identify each note in the melodies below by its pitch-class letter name. (Hint: Be wary of accidentals that may apply to more than one note in a measure.)
Enharmonic Equivalents
For each of the notes below, write a note that is enharmonically equivalent. Avoid using double accidentals for now. (Hint: Some answers will require an accidental, others will not.)
Enharmonic Equivalents (double accidentals)
For each of the notes below, write a note that is enharmonically equivalent using a double accidental (x or bb). In some cases there will be more than one correct answer.
Stem Direction
The melodic excerpts shown below have been altered. Some of the note stems are pointing in the wrong direction. Without changing any of the beams that connect groups of notes, rewrite the melodies so that all stems are pointing in the correct direction. (Remember, for un-beamed notes that lie on the middle line of the staff, the stem can point in either direction.)
Composing Using Pitches (single voice)
Compose short, single-voice melodies using only the designated pitches. Feel free to repeat any of these pitches, but make sure to use them all. Make sure that all the notes are within the given voice’s range. A time signature has been provided in each case to indicate the meter.
pitches: A, B, C, D, E
pitches: C, D, E, F, G
Composing Using Pitches (piano)
Compose two short pieces for piano using only the designated pitches. Feel free to repeat any of these pitches, but make sure to use them all. A time signature has been provided in each case to indicate the meter. (Hint: The upper staff is for the right hand and the lower staff is for the left hand. Note that the pitch collections switch half way through each exercise.) Perform your composition when you finish. Doing so will help you avoid problems with playability (e.g., unreachable spans or too many notes in one hand).
right hand pitches: A, C, E in mm. 1-4 / C, E, G in mm. 5-8
left hand pitches: C, E, G in mm. 1-4 / A, C, E in mm. 5-8
right hand pitches: F#, G#, A# in mm. 1-4 / C#, D# in mm. 5-8
left hand pitches: C#, D# in mm. 1-4 / F#, G#, A# in mm. 5-8
