A system of representing a group of pitches, such as the notes of a scale, by letters is known as letter notation in music. These would be the letters A-G, maybe with a tail symbol to denote a half-step rise (sharp) or a half-step lower (flat), for the entire Western diatonic scale, for instance (flat, ).
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How do the seven pitches go by?
Each line or space on a staff will correlate with one of the only seven note names (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G). We allow any of these notes to be sharp, flat, or natural in order to obtain all twelve pitches using only the seven note names.
What do symbols in music mean?
Musical notation uses markings and symbols called musical symbols to represent various characteristics of how a piece of music should be performed. Many musical elements have symbols to convey information, such as the pitch, duration, dynamics, or articulation of musical notes; the tempo, metre, form (such as whether sections are repeated); and certain playing techniques (e.g., which fingers, keys, or pedals are to be used, whether a string instrument should be bowed or plucked, or whether the bow of a string instrument should move up or down).
What does the piano term PED mean?
Although some sheet music does not specify when the sustain pedal should be used, there are two ways to denote a sustain pedal in your composition.
A line below the staff that indicates when to push and release the pedal is the first method. When the line begins, you depress the pedal; when it finishes, you release it. If there is a notch in the line, you should release the pedal and then quickly push it again. Overlapping pedaling is the term for the method, which produces a smooth, continuous sound on the piano.
Some complex piano pieces will say “con pedale” or “play with the pedal.” Here is also where the overlapping pedaling method is useful. With practice, it becomes extremely natural.