top of page

Music Theory Exercises

Rohan

šŸŽµReferencešŸŽµ

There are many different ways to learn notes on the Grand Staff.  Use one or a combination of techniques that works for you.  Everyone's learning style is different. 

ā€‹

  • Reference Landmark Notes and counting up and down

  • Intervallic "Skip" Naming

  • Vintage Mnemonics

 

Eventually, you will recognize the notes on sight and to be able to recognize interval shapes and distances on the staff.

ā€‹ā€‹

Practicing, reading music, and flash card type exercises will greatly speed note reading acquisition

šŸŽµLandmark NotesšŸŽµ

These are essential notes to recognize by sight.  Knowing these you can count "up" or "down" to figure out nearby notes.  The treble and bass clef have special landmark notes tied to the design of the clef.

 

The Treble Clef is sometimes called the "G Clef" because the Treble Clef sign curls around the G above middle C line.

 

The Bass Clef is sometimes called the "F Clef" because the Bass Clef sign's two dots surround the F below middle C line.  

The-treble-clef-with-G-line-is-highlighted.jpeg
The-bass-clef-with-F-line-is-highlighted.jpeg

These also are essential notes to recognize by sight.  Knowing these you can count "up" or "down" to figure out nearby notes.  The staff and piano are specially oriented around Middle C - note the symmetry on the staff for all C's - Treble C is two spaces down from the top.  Bass C is two spaces up from the bottom.  High C is two lines above the staff.  Low C is two lines below the staff.  Higher and Lower C's are indicated with special annotation.

Screen Shot 2021-02-23 at 9.39.25 AM.png
Screen Shot 2021-02-23 at 9.39.44 AM.png

Note that the G above middle C is on the line in the Treble Clef that the Treble Clef symbol's inner curl is surrounding.  The Treble Clef is also called the "G Clef" for this reason.

ā€‹

Note the F below middle C is on the line between the two dots in the Bass Clef. iThe Treble Clef is also called the "F Clef" for this reason.

ā€‹

landmarknotes2.jpeg

šŸŽµIntervallic "Skip" NamingšŸŽµ

Use this mnemonic to reckon all notes on the staff with a single saying. 

ā€‹

ā€‹

"FACEjibbidy jibbidyFACE"

ā€‹

F-A-C-E-G-B-D-F-A-C-E-G-B-D

Screen Shot 2021-01-16 at 2.54.34 PM.png
graph.jpeg

šŸŽµVintage MnemonicsšŸŽµ

Traditional memory devices include mnemonics for naming line and space notes in the clefs.  This works for some people and not for others.  If you use this type of memory device, use your learning style to associate the sayings with something that works for you - pictorial associations, rhyming schemes, or your own device.

ā€‹

Here are some classic reminders that have been used in the past to help students remember these sayings:

ā€‹

  • Treble Clef Space Notes: "F-A-C-E" - "Space Face" rhyme, outer space with a big round (space) helmet around a face (and the notion that one's face is "higher" than the ground and one's feet) -> Treble Clef

  • Treble Clef Line Notes: "Every Good Boy Does Fine" (on the line) - rhyming and "Every Good Boy" should have a clean face - association with Treble Clef sayings

  • Bass Clef Space Notes: "All Cows Eat Grass" - the grass and cows are on the ground -> lower Bass Clef notes

  • Bass Clef Line Notes: "Grandma Buys Dolls for Alice" - imagine Grandma handing a doll to Alice out where the cows are eating grass and the cow attempts to nibble on the doll.

ā€‹

trebleclef.jpg
"Every Good Boy Does Fine"
"SPACE FACE"
bass-clef-notes.jpg
"Grandma Buys Dolls For Alice"
"All Cows Eat Grass"
bottom of page