LESSON THIRTEEN
D & F Sharp, E & G Flat & A new Key
D & F Sharp, E & G Flat & A new Key
We are now going to look at some more sharp and flat notes. But don't worry they don't go on forever. In each set of eight (an octave) natural notes (white notes on a piano) there are only 5 pairs of sharp and flat notes (black notes on a piano). This one is a low D as it is on the space just below the stave and is sharp. So a semitone higher in pitch than D and the black note to the right of D on a piano. The fingering for this note is to cover the hole at the back and the top 3 holes with your left hand and the next two with your right hand and then half cover the third hole of your right hand.
Don't forget that all notes that follow a sharp note in the same bar are also sharp. So the first three notes in bar one are all D sharp but the F is natural as there is no sharp or flat sign and it is not a D so not affected by the initial accidental sharp symbol.
Don't forget that all notes that follow a sharp note in the same bar are also sharp. So the first three notes in bar one are all D sharp but the F is natural as there is no sharp or flat sign and it is not a D so not affected by the initial accidental sharp symbol.
This exercise introduces E flat. It is E as it is on the bottom line of the stave and it is flat as it has the flat symbol just before the note. This means it is a semitone lower in pitch than E or the black note to the left of E on a piano. You have probably worked out that this means it is the same note as D Sharp and therefore although this piece is written differently it should sound like piece one in this lesson.
However, please do play it again whilst looking at the new music as it will help you fix both in your head if you practice reading it both ways.
However, please do play it again whilst looking at the new music as it will help you fix both in your head if you practice reading it both ways.
Our third new accidental note is F sharp. You will know by now that this is therefore a semitone higher than F. The fingering for this note is to cover the hole at the back and the top 3 holes with the fingers of your left hand and then leave the next hole uncovered, cover the next two with the second and third fingers of your right hand and leave the bottom hole uncovered.
Don't forget to play all four of the semi-quavers as F sharp.
Also you will notice a new symbol immediately after the four semi-quavers in bars one and two. This indicates a single beat rest - i.e. keeping quiet or shutting up etc however you wish to think of it.
Don't forget to play all four of the semi-quavers as F sharp.
Also you will notice a new symbol immediately after the four semi-quavers in bars one and two. This indicates a single beat rest - i.e. keeping quiet or shutting up etc however you wish to think of it.
If you have been paying attention you will guess this piece is identical to the one before, to show you that the new note G flat is identical to F sharp and that therefore the two pieces of music are the same. So at a guess I reckon if you could play the one before you can play this one too.
Now I want you to have a look at the simple piece above and see if you can work out what the notes are. I would expect you to say C D E F G A but it is sort of a trick question - sorry about that - because acutally the answer is C D E F sharp G A. But hold on a minute I can hear you thinking, you can't catch me out like that, I know that if the F was sharp it would have the sharp symbol before it. And you would be right in certain circumstances but there are as it happens several ways in which the F could be sharp. The first is where it is an accidental and the sharp symbol is immediately before the note and the second is if it is in front of another F in the same bar, which we have already learnt. The third is what is called a key signature. A key signature tells you that all of a given note, throughout the whole of the piece of music is sharp or flat unless there is a specific natural sign in front of it. And this is what is happening in this piece.
If you look after the treble clef symbol and before the 4/4 of the time signature you will see there is a sharp sign sitting on the top line of the stave. Because this is the line on which and F sits in treble clef then this key signature indicates that all F notes are to be played sharp. And it doesn't matter if that is an F on the top line or an octave lower sitting in the bottom space of the stave, they must all be played sharp.
To find out more about key signatures click on that tab or if you want to finish the basic lessons first click on the button below to go to the final lesson, number fourteen.
If you look after the treble clef symbol and before the 4/4 of the time signature you will see there is a sharp sign sitting on the top line of the stave. Because this is the line on which and F sits in treble clef then this key signature indicates that all F notes are to be played sharp. And it doesn't matter if that is an F on the top line or an octave lower sitting in the bottom space of the stave, they must all be played sharp.
To find out more about key signatures click on that tab or if you want to finish the basic lessons first click on the button below to go to the final lesson, number fourteen.
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