Explanation of the Signs and Symbols Used in

Musical Notation
Unit 1 – Learning Aim A
 CONTENTS PAGE
• SECTION 1 – Clefs • SECTION 17 – Expressions for Dynamics and Dynamic
• SECTION 2 – Ledger Lines Changes
• SECTION 3 – Accidentals • SECTION 18 – Articulation Markings
• SECTION 4 – Intervals • SECTION 19 – Instrumental and Vocal Techniques
• SECTION 5 – Notes and Rest Values • SECTION 20 – Why is Music Notation Important and
• SECTION 6 - Bar and Bar Lines What Are the Benefits?: Final Assessment of All Types of
• SECTION 7 – Time Signatures Scores
• SECTION 8 – Key Signatures
• SECTION 9 – Guitar Tablature
• SECTION 10 - Tonic Sol-Fa
• SECTION 11 – Graphic Scores
• SECTION 12 – Drum Notation
• SECTION 13 – Chord Charts
• SECTION 14 – Lead Sheets
• SECTION 15 – Metronome Markings
• SECTION 16 – Expressions for Tempo and Tempo
Changes
 CLEFS
What are Clefs?
A Clef is a musical symbol used to show which notes are represented by the lines and spaces on a musical stave. There
are 4 main clefs regularly used: Bass Clef, Alto Clef, Tenor Clef and Treble Clef; with the Bass and Treble Clef being the
most common.

Why Are Different Clefs Used?

Different clefs are used within music to help distinguish between the different kinds of instruments and voices, making
sure that they are playing in the right pitch.

• TREBLE CLEF – The treble clef represents the pitch of G above middle C, so it is often called the G clef. It is the
most used clef today and is used by higher-pitched instruments and voices, such as: guitar, violin, trumpet and flute.
The treble clef has the notes E, G, B, D and F on the lines of the score, with the notes F, A, C, and E in the spaces.   
 CLEFS
• BASS CLEF – The bass clef signifies low to medium pitches and is used by instruments such as: bass guitar, double
bass, cello, and tuba. It has the notes G, B, D, F and A on the lines of the score, with the notes A, C, E and G in the
spaces.

• ALTO CLEF – The alto clef is primarily used for the viola and alto trombone. The pointer on the clef points at the
middle C, in the middle of the staff.

• TENOR CLEF – The tenor clef is very similar to the alto clef, but the pointer points at a different line on the staff (it
still points to the middle C, but middle C is positioned at a different point on the staff). It is sometimes used by
bassoons, bass violins and tenor trombones.

P1 – explained clefs in notation

 CLEFS
Analysis
In the piece of music Prelude to Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner, all 4
clefs are used. High pitched instruments like the clarinet and flute use the
treble clef.  Bassoon, trombone and double bass are low pitched and
therefore use the bass clef. The specialty clefs can also be seen with the
viola using the alto clef and the cello using the tenor clef as it is high up in
its range during this piece of music.

M1 – analysed
Assessment D1 – assessed importance
Clefs are important for traditional music notation because it is a way of
composers writing for different instruments with different ranges from very
low (e.g. double bass or contrabassoon) to very high (e.g. piccolo).  They
mean also that all instruments in the orchestra can be catered for and play
comfortably.  Without clefs, it wouldn’t be clear which notes are represented
by the lines and spaces on a stave and therefore, performances would be
inaccurate and ledger lines would be used a lot which would make it also
look messy and unclear.  
 LEDGER LINES
What are Ledger Lines?
Ledger lines show the pitches of notes above or below the lines and spaces of the regular, modern musical stave. For example,
within the bass clef, the ledger lines carry on above the stave creating the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C. And, in the treble clef, the
ledger lines continue below the stave, creating the notes C, B, A, G, F, D, C and E. Below is an example of ledger lines reaching all
the way to 7 ledger lines above the stave.

Normally, composers try not to exceed more than 4 ledger lines above or below the stave in whichever clef they are writing in as it
makes it more and more difficult to read. If the ledger lines need to extend any further the best way to achieve this would be to
change the clef (e.g. Alto clef to treble clef) or use the 8ve symbol which means to play one octave higher (this is sometimes used
for flute notation or piccolo as their range can get very high)

P1 – described in detail 
 LEDGER LINES
Analysis
In the piece of music R U Mine? by Arctic
Monkeys, ledger lines are used throughout for
the guitar to reach different ranges outside the
pitches of the normal stave.   The first ledger line
used is indicating the guitar should be playing an
F sharp below the stave in bar 2. 

Assessment
Ledger lines are important in music notation because
they extend the stave far above and far below the
regular 5 lines and 4 spaces. This allows the full
range of whatever instrument is being written for to
be explored by composers. It is successful in doing
this but also can cause complications in being too
difficult to read – especially when sight-reading or M1/D1 - Analyzed and assessed importance 
writing for instruments like the piano which has a
huge 7 octave range! Therefore, a reasonable way of solving this would be to use 8va or 8 followed by a
dotted line over the notes to be played an octave higher. The 8 indicates an octave, as
there are 8 tones in an octave. This makes the score look less cluttered and clumsy and
makes it much easier for the performer to read.
 P1 – explained

ACCIDENTALS accidentals 

What are Accidentals?

An accidental note is one that is not part of the main scale, but marks the musical notations: the sharp, flats and natural
symbols. 

• Sharps and flats represent “in-between” notes, with a sharp being a higher pitched note and a flat being a lower
pitched note by one semitone.

• A natural accidental represents a note that is neither sharp nor flat. It is a sign used to tell a player that that specific
note isn’t sharp or flat anymore, if it was previously and that they should return to playing the natural note.
 P1 – explained

ACCIDENTALS accidentals 

What are Accidentals?

Sometimes, we also see double sharps and double flats being used.  Instead of the note being higher or lowered by one
semitone, double flats and sharps do it by 2 semitones.  Or a whole tone.  

E,g,  C double sharp  =  the note D on the piano as it is being raised by a whole tone (2 semitones)
 ACCIDENTALS
Analysis
In Beethoven’s piece of music Für Elise, there is a
sharp accidental on the D note in the 1st bar, and then it
returns to normal when there is a natural accidental on
the D note in the 2nd bar.  This happens throughout the
piece.  

Assessment
Accidentals are important because they allow musicians to
play higher or lower pitched notes with their instruments,
providing an exact description of what to play. They also
provide tension and drama within a piece of music, making
it sound more interesting and exciting to play or listen to.
If we were to discuss the instrument piano, if there were
not accidentals – pianos would look very different and only
have white keys. Having black keys, and therefore,
accidentals to play on any instrument means that pieces of M1 – analyzed using example
music can explore more emotions within them. D1 – assessed importance in detail
 Melodic Interval

INTERVALS
What are Intervals? Harmonic Interval
An interval is the difference between two different pitches on any instrument, even
voices – each interval has a specific number and quality to it.

• “Melodic intervals” are read horizontally and are found in melodies.

• “Harmonic intervals” are read vertically and are found in chords.

For example, if the start note is D on the piano:

• To find a minor second interval (otherwise known as the semitone), you would go
up in pitch by one semitone to D sharp.
• To find a major second interval, the distance is two semitones, which takes me to
the note E.
• To find a minor third interval, the distance is three semitones, which is the note F.
• To find a major third interval, the distance is four semitones, which is the note F
sharp. I would know this because F sharp is in the key of D major.

P1 – explained intervals in
detail
 INTERVALS
Analysis
For example, in the song Teenagers by My Chemical
Romance, there is a minor third melodic interval in the
first bar. The 1st note is C sharp and then it goes up in three
semitones to get to the note E.

Assessment
Intervals are really important in musical notation because
they tell you a lot of information. For example, in a chord
– the difference between a major and minor chord is the
use of the minor 3rd interval or the major 3rd interval. 

As well as chords, the shape of melodies is also dictated

by the intervals used and some have different effects and
are useful for learning how to sight-read and sight sing.
For example, the major 3rd sounds like the beginning of
kumbahyah and an octave interval cab be learnt by ear as
‘somewhere over the rainbow’
M1- analyzed using clear example
D1- assessed importance in detail 
 NOTES & REST VALUES
What are Notes and Rest Values? Analysis
This table below shows the values of each note and In Måneskin’s cover of the Beggin’, there are a lot of quarter (crotchet) notes at the
rest value within written music: beginning (bar 2), and then there is mix of half (minim) and eighth (quaver) notes mixed
in within bar 3 & 4.

P1
M1
D1

Assessment
Notes and rest values are important in music to keep pieces of music organised, accurate and rhythmic. They show how long a note should be
played for and how long a rest should be in music.  This helps a musician be accurate and allows creativity when composing music, especially
with lyrics which have a natural rhythm when they are spoken/sung. 
 BARS & BAR LINES
What are Bars and Bar Lines?
A bar is a single unit of time containing a specific number of beats played at a
particular tempo. A bar line is a single vertical line used to divide a musical staff
into different sections.

There are multiple different types of bar lines, each symbolising something
different:

• Single Bar Line – it is a single vertical line that indicates the end of one bar and
the beginning of another.
• Double Bar Line – two vertical lines, next to each other, indicating the end of
one section and the beginning of another.
• End Bar Line – two vertical lines, with the second line thicker than the first. It
indicates the end of a piece of music.
• Start Repeat Bar Line – it’s a double bar line, with the first one thicker than the
second. It is followed by a pair of dots that look like a colon. This indicates the
first bar of a repeated section.
• End Repeat Bar Line – it’s a double bar line, with the second one thicker than
the first, with a pair of dots in front of the first line. It indicates the final bar of a
repeated section.
P1 Explained bar and barlines detailed
 BARS & BAR LINES
Analysis
In Arctic Monkey’s Do I Wanna Know?, there is a
clear example of a double bar line where there is a
repeated section at the beginning of the song. 

Assessment
Bar lines are important in music as they not only
break up the music into separate bars, but they also
make music a lot easier to read and follow. They
help to organise a piece of music with clear
symbols for different functions – for example,
repeating sections so they do not have to be written
again.  

M1- analyzed using clear example

D1- assessed importance in detail 
 TIME SIGNATURES
What are Time Signatures?
Time signatures are symbols at the beginning of a piece of music that show you how many beats there are in one bar. This can
sometimes change midway through a song; however, most songs have the same time signature the whole way through.

• Simple Time Signatures – the top number shows how many beats there are in a bar and the bottom number shows what type of
beats there are within the bar.  For example, 4/4, 2/4 and 2/2 time signatures.  

P1 explained time signatures in

detail 

• Compound Time Signatures – the beat is broken down into three-part rhythms, where the top number in the time signatures is
evenly divisible by 3 (the only exception is 3 being the top number). For example, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8 where you can easily divide the
top number by 3.  

• Complex Time Signatures – these are the most unusual time signatures and don't fit into normal divisible ways like simple and
compound.  For example, 7/8, 7/4 and 5/4...
 TIME SIGNATURES
Analysis
In Måneskin’s song Zitti E Buoni, there is an
obvious, simple time signature (4/4) at the
beginning of the piece of music. This makes it
clear to each member of the band that there are
4 beats in a bar and that each bar is made up of
crotchets (the beat value is 1).

Assessment
Time signatures are important within music
notation because they tell musicians how many
beats are in a bar, as well as what type of beats
are within each bar. This allows them to know
what to expect within the music as well as
keeping them in time with one another.
 KEY SIGNATURES
What are Key Signatures?
Key signatures are symbols used in music notation telling you what key a song or piece of music is in. They are
groups of sharps or flats, each representing a different key, and are often written on the stave after the clef symbol and
before the time signature. Here are some examples:
If you are playing a song in a
certain key, the same notes will
be sharp or flat throughout the
entire song. Instead of writing
sharps or flats for each note every
time, the musician is expected to
remember the sharp or flat that
those notes need to be played –
signified at the beginning of the
piece.  Each key also has a
relative minor which shares the
same key signature but will have
additional accidentals to create
P1 - explained key signatures in detail
the minor sound.  
 KEY SIGNATURES
Analysis
Within the song The Middle by the band
Jimmy Eat World, there are two sharps seen
after the bass clef. Their placement tells the
musician that they need to play their bass
guitar in the D major key.

Assessment
Key signatures are important within written
music as they effectively show the musician
which key to play the piece of music in, as
well as making sure that all instruments stay in
tune with one another. This is important as
some instruments may have different keys and
need to transpose – therefore increasing the
sharps and flats needed.

M1- analysed key signatures 

D1 - assessed key signatures
 GUITAR TABLATURE
What is Guitar Tablature?
Guitar tablature, usually referred to as “tab”, is a form of written music that helps beginner guitarists to learn songs
quickly and easily. They show you what notes to play (in a simplified version) and sometimes how long to play them for,
in some forms of tablature.

Analysis
Tom Misch’s song Disco Yes is represented here in guitar
tablature for a bass guitar. Within the main riff, it starts by
telling the musician to play an open A note on the A
string, followed by a B note which is played by placing a
finger on the 2nd fret, then a C note on the 3rd fret, and so
on etc. 

Assessment
Guitar Tablature is very important for beginner guitarists
as it is a simpler way for them to learn songs. It makes
music more accessible to anyone that wants to learn by
being visual and having a simple number system P1 - explained guitar tablature in detail
M1 - analysed guitar tablatures 
D1 - assessed guitar tablatures
 TONIC SOL-FA
What is Tonic Sol-Fa?
Tonic sol-fa is a method of learning and reading music that can be traced back to the 11 th century. The technique uses
seven note names for a scale: DO, RE, MI, FA, SO, LA and TI; with a hand signal for each. Do is considered to be the
“tonic note” in all major/minor keys.  It is often used to train musicians by ear, as well as younger children.

P1- explained tonic sol-fa in detail

 TONIC SOL-FA
Analysis
Here is an example of tonic sol-fa written out for singers in the song Fly
Fly Away. At the top of the music, it shows that the DOH is B flat,
meaning the key signature of the music must be Bb major.  

Assessment
Tonic sol-fa is important within musical notation as it is a simple form
of notation that not only improves the quality of vocal pitching, but also
allows musicians to have a greater understanding of music. It also
allows younger children to aurally learn songs and understand the
different degrees of major and minor scales.

M1 - analysed tonic sol-fa

D1 - assessed tonic sol-fa
 P1 - explained graphic scores in
detail
GRAPHIC SCORES M1 - analysed graphic scores
D1 - asssessed graphic scores
What is a Graphic Score?
A graphic score is an alternative representation of music notation that uses visual symbols instead of notes on a stave. It became
popular in the 1950s and is now used either in combination with or instead of traditional music notation. Sometimes the composer
might write a key to show what each symbol or picture represents; however, it is often down to the musician who reads the score
that then decides what each one represents.
Analysis
For example, in this video (from 1:45), this composer creates a simple
picture and tries to improvise his musical notations to create “a simple
musical journey” that can be read and interpreted differently by different
composers and musicians.

Assessment
Graphic scores are an important form of music notation today as they
allow for musicians to create a variety of different pieces of music from
one score. This means that musicians can create music that has more of
their own personal ideas within it, instead of following an exact, set piece
of music. However, it can become complicated when the score isn’t
obvious or too busy. This can cause musicians to play something that
isn’t exactly how the composer intended: e.g., the tempo, pitch,
dynamics, etc.
 DRUM NOTATION
What is Drum Notation?
Drum notation, also known as percussion notation, is a form
of music notation that is specific to percussion instruments.
It is considered quick and easy to learn, and a simpler way
for new musicians to quickly understand how to properly use
their instrument.

To be able to read drum notation, you firstly need to learn

the different symbols used. They tell you what part of the
drum kit is represented by the symbol: what to play and
when. It is an easy way to play a rhythm if you’ve never
heard it before.

Here is an example of the basic drum notation key:

P1 - explained drum notation in

detail
 DRUM NOTATION
Analysis
A good example is the drum notation for Shot in the Dark by AC/DC. There is a clear key in the top left-hand corner
of the sheet music, allowing for the musician to easily understand what each symbol within the piece of music
represents on the drum kit.

Assessment
Drum notation is an important form of music notation as it is
effective in helping new or experienced musicians in quickly
learning a new rhythm.   It is also clear because each part of the
drum kit has its own symbols on a specific line or space – which
is similar to the way we write traditional music notation.  

Once learnt by drummers, this system is really effective in

aiding them to read ahead and see what is coming up next in the
score.  

M1 - analysed drum notation

D1 - assessed drum notation
 P1 - explained chord charts in
detail
CHORD CHARTS
What is a Chord Chart?
A chord chart is a picture of a section of the fretboard and neck of a guitar if it was standing up vertically. The vertical
lines are the strings, and the horizontal lines are the fret bars. It is an easy way for learners, or experienced musicians, to
quickly pick up a chord to play in a specific piece of music.

The far-right vertical line represents the 1st string on the guitar, and the far-left
vertical line represents the 6th string (both strings represent the note E.

The horizontal lines represent the fret bars on the guitar neck.

The space between the horizontal lines represent the frets – this is where you
place your fingers to play a note or chord. The dots tell you where to put your
fingers and the numbers underneath tell you which finger to use.

If there is a 0 then you play that string open, without placing a finger on it.
However, the X means don’t play that string (or to mute it).

The T means to play that note with your thumb.

 M1 - analysed chord charts 
D1 - asssessed chord charts
CHORD CHARTS
Analysis
In Måneskin’s song I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE, a chord chart for the chord C sharp 5 can be seen right at the
beginning of the music notation – I have put an enlarged version of the chord chart below. This is a common chord used
in pop music and is therefore a reminder on the stave for the guitarist to refresh their memory on how to play it.

Assessment
Chord charts are an important part
of music notation as it allows new
musicians to quickly learn how to
play a chord for a piece of music.
However, it can also act as a quick
reminder, for an experienced
musician, how to play the chord
amongst others in a piece of music.
They are also very easy to visually
understand, making them a good
form of representing how to play a
chord.
 P1 - explained lead sheets
LEAD SHEETS M1 - analysed lead sheets
D1 - assessed lead sheets
What is a Lead Sheet?
A lead sheet is a form of music notation that shows the melody, lyrics and harmony of a song. It is commonly used as
a simpler form of music notation for quick practices of a song, or as a simple guide when performing.

• MELODY – the music notation on the score

• LYRICS – written under the score

• HARMONY – chord symbols above the score

Analysis
An example of a lead sheet is Mardy Bum by Arctic Monkeys. You can see the
melody line in yellow, harmonies in green and lyrics in pink.  It does not provide
the vocal harmonies or drum beat, bass line etc

Assessment
Lead sheets are important as they are a detailed enough form of music notation that
provides a solid basis of what is needed to play a piece of music but written in its
simplest possible way.  This is a benefit for musicians playing in an experienced
band as they can put their own spin on the cover version they create.   Lead sheets
are more difficult for learners as they will reply on much more information to help
them get started.  
 P1 - explained metronome
markings in detail
M1 - analysed metronome

METRONOME MARKINGS markings 

D1 - assessed metronome
markings
What are Metronome Markings?
A metronome marking is the speed of music, indicated in beats per minute, or bpm. It is usually written in the form of
‘mm x = nn’ where the metronome (mm) note length (x) = number of beats per minute (nn). For example, a bpm of 60
means that there is one beat per second in 60 seconds. The more beats there are per minute, the faster the piece of music
will be. They are very specific to the piece of music, with the majority of songs being somewhere between 152 and 176,
depending on how fast it will be,

Analysis
An example of a metronome marking is this one circled in
green for the song Misery Business by Paramore. It is clearly
seen in the top left-hand corner of the sheet music and is
obvious to anyone reading it that this is the tempo of the song
is 168 beats per minute.

Assessment
Metronome markings are important as they state the exact
speed that the composer intended for the piece of music to be,
helping to keep all musicians in time with one another.
 EXPRESSIONS FOR TEMPO & TEMPO CHANGES
What are Tempo Expressions? What are Tempo Change Expressions?
Tempo expressions – a word or phrase that helps you Tempo change expressions – a word or phrase used to
understand how fast the composer intended for the music signify if the tempo of the piece of music is suddenly
to sound and feel like. Here are some tempo expressions: changing. Here are some tempo change expressions:

Tempo Expression Tempo Change Expression

Adaigo Slowly Accelerando / Stringendo With increasing speed

Allegretto Fairly quickly Rallentando Becoming slower

Allegro Quickly, in a lively Smorzando Dying Away

manner
Andante A moderate pace

Dolce Gently
P2 - explained expression
markings for tempo, and tempo
changes in detail
 EXPRESSIONS FOR TEMPO & TEMPO CHANGES
Analysis
In this traditional folk song Country Gardens, you can see the tempo expression ‘Allegro’ seen clearly at the top of the
stave. This shows the musician that this song must be played quickly, in a lively manner, and as there are no tempo
change expressions, the song continues in this tempo throughout the whole piece.

Assessment
Expressions for tempo and tempo changes are important within music notation as it helps musicians to play a piece of
music at the same pace that the composer intended for it to be played at. It also helps for multiple musicians to be in
time with one another.

M1 - analysed expression for

tempo and tempo changes 
D1 - assessed expressions for
tempo and tempo changes
 EXPRESSIONS FOR DYNAMICS & DYNAMIC CHANGES
What are Dynamic Expressions? What are Dynamic Change Expressions?
Dynamic Expressions – a word or phrase used to tell a Dynamic Change Expressions – a word or phrase used to
musician how the dynamics are to be in a piece of music. tell a musician if the dynamics of a piece of music are
Here are some dynamic expressions: suddenly changing. Here are some dynamic change
expressions:

Dynamic Expression Dynamic Change Expression

Fortissimo ff Very loud Crescendo (can be Gradually getting louder

shortened to cresc)
Forte f Loud Diminuendo / Gradually getting quieter
Decrescendo (can be
Mezzo Forte mf Moderately loud shortened to dim)

Mezzo Piano mp Moderately quiet This is how they will be displayed within a piece of
music notation:
Piano p Quiet

Pianissimo pp Very quiet

P2 - explained dynamics in
detail
 EXPRESSIONS FOR DYNAMICS & DYNAMIC CHANGES

Analysis
An example of a dynamic expression is in the song Ignorance by Paramore. In green, I have circled the dynamic
expression for Forte. This shows that the song must be played loudly, reflecting the genre of fast mental rock music and
the 168 beats per minute tempo.
Assessment
Expressions for dynamics and dynamic
changes are important within musical
notation as they allow the musician to
play a piece of music with the correct
dynamics in which the composer
originally intended for. They can also
play with the correct emotions and
expressions with their instrument.

M1 - analysed expressions for

dynamics and dynamic changes
D1 - asssessed expressions for
dynamics and dynamic changes
 P2 - explained articulation
markings in detail

ARTICULATION MARKINGS
What are Articulation Markings?
Articulation markings tell the musician what effect to give the note that they are playing. Here are some:

• STACCATO – one of the most used musical articulations which

means short and detached.

• LEGATO – this is the opposite of staccato. It means smooth and

together: the notes should be played smoothly with no gaps in
between each one.

• SLURS – these are shortened versions of phrase marks which join

2 notes of a different pitch together. This means that the 2 nd note
should be played slightly quieter than the 1st note and shortened
slightly.

• PAUSES – these tell the musician to hold the note for a longer
period of time than written.

• SLIDES – these tell the musician to “swoop” up or down in pitch

from one note to the next rather than jumping straight up to the
note.
 M1 - analysed articulation
markings
D1 - assessed articulation
ARTICULATION MARKINGS markings

Analysis
A good example of articulation markings in in ZITTI E BUONI by Måneskin. There is a heavy use of staccato and slurs
within the beginning of the song (I have circled a few). These help to achieve the signature short, sharp notes combined
with longer, smoother notes that Måneskin are known for playing.

Assessment
Articulation markings are
commonly known to make music
more interesting and exciting, as
well as making music more
expressive. This allows for a piece
of music to not only reflect the
composer’s intended style, but also
the message behind it, making the
piece of music more personal and
specific.
 INSTRUMENTAL TECHNIQUES
STRING INSTRUMENTS WIND / BASS INSTRUMENTS

• PIZZICATO – this is where the musician plucks the • GROWLING – a musical technique where the
string, usually with a finger of the right hand. In jazz musician vocalises into the instrument to alter the
music, the double bass is played as a plucked quality of the sound. It is mainly used in rock and
instrument rather than using a bow. blues music.

• TREMOLO – this is created by rapidly repeating tones • FLUTTER-TONGUING – it is a wind instrument

using quick up and down strokes of the bow. It creates technique where the musician flutters their tongue to
a sense of tension, when loud (forte), or a make a characteristic “FrrrFrrr” sound. The effect can
“shimmering” sound when soft. It it very common in very according to the instrument and what volume it is
film scores. played at.

• HARMONICS – these are very high-pitched tones that • MUTE – this is when a device is attached to a musical
are produced when a musician lightly touches certain instrument in which it changes its tone quality or
points on a string. It is very common in film scores. lowers its volume. Mutes are commonly used on string
and bass instruments, especially the trumpet and
trombone.
P1 - explained instrumental
techniques in detail
 INSTRUMENTAL TECHNIQUES
PIANO

• SUSTAIN PEDAL – it is the most frequently used pedal on the piano where it causes selected notes to sustain for a
period of time after you lift your finger off the keys. The “ped” marking indicated that you should press the pedal
down and the asterisk indicates that you should release the pedal. However, a line below the staff can also indicate
when to press and release the pedal. You press it down when the line starts and release when it ends.

P1
 INSTRUMENTAL TECHNIQUES
PIANO

• SOFT PEDAL (una corda) – this

pedal changes the tone of the piano
to a slightly softer sound. When
the pedal is to be played, you will
see una corda written into the
music notation, and tre corde when
to release it.

• SOSTENUTO PEDAL – this pedal

only sustains notes from middle C
and lower. It also only sustains
notes that you are already playing
when the pedal is pressed.
P1
 INSTRUMENTAL TECHNIQUES
OTHER TECHNIQUES

• GLISSANDO – this is a
glide from one pitch to
another without breaks or
stopping in between each
note. It comes from the
French word glisser,
meaning ’to glide’.

• TRILLS – this is a
technique where there is
rapid alteration between
the note written (Called
the “principal” note), and
the note above.
P1
 P1 - explained vocal techniques
in detail
M1 - analysed vocal techniques
VOCAL TECHNIQUES D1 - assessed vocal techniques

• BELTING – this vocal technique is considered the “high” in contemporary singing. It is based on chest voice
vibration where the vocal folds are vibrating with a thick texture and a firm, fast closure that requires strong
air pressure but not much flow.

• VIBRATO – this is a vocal technique where the voice is alternating subtly and very quickly between two
pitches that are very close together, The effect is believed to add warmth to the voice.

Analysis
A good example of a glissando is in Rhapsody in Blue, as circled above. It starts at the note G and goes all the way up to the note B
without stopping in between each note – it is played without stopping in between notes, making it sound smooth.

Assessment
All these instrumental and vocal techniques are important within music when practicing and learning how to play an instrument or sing.
They provide the musician with the exact information that they need in order to play a piece of music with the correct techniques for
future practice and performances.
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M1
D1
WHY IS MUSIC NOTATION IMPORTANT AND WHAT ARE
THE BENEFITS AND DISADVANTAGES?
Final Assessment of All Types of Scores
Music notation is very important for composers and musicians all over the world. It not only gives the same information to each performer for
one piece of music, but it also allows for them to know what notes to play, how fast or slow to play them, and sometimes instructions about the
dynamics and timbre of the song. The more detailed the musical notation, the more precise the performance will be. It is the core form of
communication between composers and musicians all over the world.

Having researched many different types of scores, I will now assess them by looking at the positive and negative features of each one:

TRADITIONAL NOTATION

+      Traditional notation can be used by all instruments due to the many clefs that it uses. Its wide range of use means that it is commonly
used worldwide and is well known in every language, so has therefore become a language of its own.

-      However, some people may struggle to read and understand traditional notation due to how crowded everything can become on the staff.
Due to a lot of traditional pieces of music being written with this method, it can restrict some musicians from what they are able to play.
 P1​
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WHY IS MUSIC NOTATION IMPORTANT AND D1

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Final Assessment of All Types of Scores
GUITAR TABLATURE

+      Guitar tablature is very useful for musicians who are beginners, or guitarists who struggle to read traditional music notation, making it
widely available to anyone who wants to learn. It also allows them to quickly understand where to place their fingers to play a piece of
music.
-      Guitar tablature can often be inaccurate and Click to add
can’t express thetext
rhythm or dynamics of a song without hearing it first.

TONIC SOL-FA

+      Tonic sol-fa is a simple way to teach younger children how to sing a piece of music, as well as training musicians by ear.
-      However, it isn’t very specific and may be too simple. It can also be difficult to understand sometimes if you do not yet know the hand
signals correctly, or struggle to read from hand signals in general.

GRAPHIC SCORE

+      Graphic scores allow composers to create unique and personal pieces of music without using traditional notation. They can also be a
different method of playing a piece of music that hasn’t got any specific rules to it.
-      However, they do have they can become complicated to read if a key is not left by the composer.
 WHY IS MUSIC NOTATION IMPORTANT AND
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? P1​
M1​
DRUM NOTATION
Final Assessment of All Types of Scores D1

+      Drum notation is a clear form of notation for drummers that shows what parts of the drum kit are represented, when the play it, and in
what rhythm. This means that it can be easy for drummers to accurately learn a new piece of music without ever hearing it
-      Some drummers may prefer to play by ear or by improvising, making notation harder to understand for them.

CHORD CHARTS

+      Chord charts are useful for new musicians to quickly learn how to play a chord, or as a reminder to experienced musicians how to play
it. They are also easy to read and understand as there isn’t much to look at.
-      However, chord charts don’t always show exactly how the chords should be strummed on the guitar. This means that you can’t always
achieve the correct rhythm of the song without previously listening to it.

LEAD SHEETS

+      Lead sheets are a very useful form of music notation for all instruments and singers in a band. It provides all the information needed to
be able to successfully play a song.
-      However, they do not provide the full score for the musician and only chord symbols are provided. Therefore, if the musician hasn’t
played the song before, it can be difficult for them to fully understand how to play it.
 WHY IS MUSIC NOTATION IMPORTANT AND
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
D1
Final Assessment of All Types of Scores
CONCLUSION

Personally, as someone that plays the bass guitar, I find that guitar tablature and lead sheets are the most useful type of scores when playing
my instrument. I struggle to read traditional music notation myself, so having an alternative such as tablatures is extremely helpful. However,
lead sheets can also be helpful once I have learnt what notes to play. It helps me to begin to understand where notes are on the score, but also
the rhythm of a piece of music if I haven’t previously listened to it. Guitar tablature allows me to expand my musical abilities and become
more confident with more complicated pieces of music.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Section 1 - Clefs
https://www.musicnotes.com/now/tips/a-complete-guide-to-musical-clefs-what-are-they-and-how-to-use-them/
https://www.musictheoryacademy.com/how-to-read-sheet-music/alto-clef/
https://www.musictheoryacademy.com/how-to-read-sheet-music/tenor-clef/
Section 2 – Ledger Lines
https://www.allaboutmusictheory.com/musical-staff/ledger-lines/
https://www.simplifyingtheory.com/ledger-lines/
https://dictionary.onmusic.org/appendix/topics/components-of-the-staff
Section 3 – Accidentals
https://www.mymusictheory.com/grade-1-course/125-3-accidentals
https://hellomusictheory.com/learn/accidentals/
https://www.allaboutmusictheory.com/piano-keyboard/accidentals-music/
https://www.musikalessons.com/blog/2017/06/accidentals-in-music/
Section 4 – Intervals
https://www.mymusictheory.com/for-students/grade-5/53-7-intervals#:~:text=%20Grade%20Five%20Music%20Theory%20Lesson%207:%20Intervals,example%20
%E2%80%9C%20major%20sixth%E2%80%9D.%20There%20are...%20More%20
https://hellomusictheory.com/learn/intervals/
Section 5 – Notes and Rest Values
https://www.readmusicmethod.com/note-values
https://www.essential-music-theory.com/music-note.html
Section 6 – Bar and Bar Lines
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-about-bars-in-music#5-types-of-bar-lines-and-their-meanings
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-about-bars-in-music#how-to-read-a-bar-of-music
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Section 7 – Time Signatures
https://www.mymusictheory.com/learn-music-theory/for-students/grade-1/grade-1-course/131-9-time-signatures#:~:text=Time%20signatures%20are%20written%20after%20the%20clef%20and,beat%20
we%20need%20to%20count%20in%20each%20bar
https://www.libertyparkmusic.com/musical-time-signatures/
Section 8 – Key Signatures
https://musicalsanctuary.com/key-signatures/#:~:text=%20Learn%20Music%20Theory%3A%20Key%20Signatures%20%201,clef%20and%20before%20the%20time%20signature.%20More%20
http://www.musictheoryfundamentals.com/MusicTheory/keySignatures.php
https://www.musictheoryacademy.com/how-to-read-sheet-music/key-signatures/
Section 9 – Guitar Tablature
https://musictheoryblog.blogspot.com/2007/01/tablature-tab.html
https://www.guitarlessonworld.com/lessons/reading-notation-tablature/#:~:text=Tablature%2C%20or%20tab%2C%20is%20a%20notation%20method%20used,indicate%20which%20fret%20to%20play
%20on%20that%20string
.
Section 10 – Tonic Sol-Fa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonic_sol-fa
https://www.encyclopedia.com/literature-and-arts/performing-arts/music-theory-forms-and-instruments/tonic-sol-fa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcVyn1m8AdY
https://www.musical-u.com/learn/what-is-solfa-and-why-do-i-need-it/#
Section 11 – Graphic Scores
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zp9wk2p/revision/7
http://davidhall.io/visualising-music-graphic-scores/
Section 12 – Drum Notation
https://www.schoolofrock.com/resources/drums/drum-notation-for-beginners
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWLWp_tWuZE
Section 13 – Chord Charts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chord_chart#:~:text=A%20chord%20chart%20%28or%20chart%29%20is%20a%20form,%28usually%20consisting%20of%20piano%2C%20guitar%2C%20drums%20and
%20bass%29
.
https://www.musicnotes.com/now/musictheory/how-to-read-a-chord-chart-or-lead-sheet-at-the-piano/
https://www.cyberfret.com/guitar-chords/how-to-read-guitar-chord-charts/
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Section 14 – Lead Sheets
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_sheet
https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-today/summer-2018/lead-sheet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0hwGaUUxss
Section 15 – Metronome Markings
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zq6nrwx/revision/1
https://steinberg.help/dorico/v2/en/dorico/topics/notation_reference/notation_reference_tempo_metronome_marks_c.html#:~:text=Metronome%20marks%20show%20the%20speed,minute%2C%20the%20faster%20the%20music.&text=
Depending%20on%20the%20type%20and,tempo%20or%20an%20approximate%20tempo
.
Section 16 – Expressions for Tempo and Tempo Changes
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/musicappreciation_with_theory/chapter/tempo-markings-and-changes/
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/music-101-what-is-tempo-how-is-tempo-used-in-music#what-is-italian-music-terminology
https://www.musictheoryacademy.com/how-to-read-sheet-music/tempo/
Section 17 – Expressions for Dynamics and Dynamic Changes
https://www.mymusictheory.com/learn-music-theory/for-students/grade-1/grade-1-course/137-16-dynamics
https://hellomusictheory.com/learn/dynamics/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQkloIQlZ0I
Section 18 – Articulation Markings
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articulation_(music)#:~:text=In%20music%20notation%20articulation%20marks%20include%20the%20slur%2C,its%20position%20on%20the%20staff%29%2C%20represents%20each%20articulation.
https://www.sterlingsingers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Musical_Symbols.pdf
https://www.musictheoryacademy.com/how-to-read-sheet-music/articulation/
Section 19 – Instrumental and Vocal Techniques
https://getrevising.co.uk/diagrams/instrumental_techniques#:~:text=Instrumental%20Techniques.%20Strings.%20Arco%3A%20Bow%20the%20strings.%20Pizzicato%3A,Wind%20and%20Brass.%20Slurred%3A%20Notes%20are%20
played%20smoothly
.
https://www.slideshare.net/corinbone/the-concepts-of-music
Section 20 – Why is Music Notation Important and What Are the Benefits? Final Assessment of All Types of Scores.
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/music-101-what-is-musical-notation-learn-about-the-different-types-of-musical-notes-and-time-signatures