Introduction to music theory 2: pitch and notation

Introduction

This free course explores pitch, considering how musical sounds are differentiated as notes and as systems of notes. It introduces the Western pitch system, then explores how pitch is organised in some other world traditions, including Aka singing from Central Africa, Sundanese gamelan music from Indonesia, and Arab classical music from Syria.

The course explores how notes are represented through words and symbols, devoting special attention to Western staff notation while also considering Arab and Sundanese notation. You will have opportunities to read and write notes and to sing and play short musical extracts with the help of staff notation.

You will get the most out of this course if you can study it with the help of a keyboard instrument. Even a basic 49-key electronic keyboard will allow you to undertake all of the activities. If you cannot get access to an actual instrument, the second-best option is to find an app or website that incorporates a sound-producing keyboard. This should allow you to complete the majority of the activities.

This OpenLearn course is the second in a planned sequence of music theory courses. It draws in part on material created for A234 Understanding music by Byron Dueck, Alex Kolassa, and Helen Coffey.