SOUND DIRECTIONS

Bass sounds and treble sounds are constantly related to each other and when sequential they create
direction effects. The effect of bass toward treble is called upward motion, and the effect of treble toward
bass is called downward motion.
The writing of the movements works like a function graph. In the vertical plane we have the different
heights of the sounds, with the lower sounds written lower and the higher sounds written higher; and in the
horizontal plane we have the sequence of events. The upward movement looks like an increasing function and
the downward movement looks like a decreasing function.
Musical Notation
▪ The two main axes of musical notation are pitch and time
▪ The orientation of these axes works similarly to a simple function graph
▪ Reading proceeds, as in a text, from left to right
▪ The displacements (sequences) of sounds generate progressions: ascending motion, descending motion,
and repetition.

The pitch axis runs from the bass towards the treble (note that bass and treble
are relative concepts). The lower the pitch, the lower the sound is written.
The time axis goes from the beginning of the music (instant zero) toward the
end. (Of course the time axis is sectioned into lines, as in text, too). Simultaneous sounds
are written vertically aligned.
EXAMPLE:

STAFF
The music is written on a staff of 5 lines and 4 spaces. Both lines and spaces are used for pitches, following the
pitch axis. To indicate the pitch region of the sounds (bass, middle or treble) clefs (G, C and F) are used.
CLEFS

G Clef (treble clef) C Clef (Middle clef) F Clef (bass clef)

Treble and middle Middle Middle and bass

The clefs apply to specific pitch regions (bass, middle and treble) and indicate the position of a specific
note to be taken as a reference for reading. The treble clef, representing highs and mids, indicates the position
of the note G4 (on the second line). The C clef, representing middle sounds, indicates the position of the C4 note
(on the third line). And the bass clef, representing middle and low sounds, indicates the position of the F3 note
(on the fourth line). There are other historical positions for these clefs, higher or lower, but the regions indicated
are the same.
A practical technique for reading pitches is intervallic reading, which is based on the distances between
notes. Thus, even intervals (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th...) are written on a line and in a space. Odd-numbered intervals
(3rd, 5th, 7th...) are written on two lines or two spaces. Exemplos:

Pares Ímpares

2ª 4ª 3ª 5ª

Uses According to the Instruments

▪ Melodic instruments (such as the violin, the cello, the flute, and the voice) use a simple staff with clefs
that best accommodate the pitch range of these instruments
▪ Polyphonic instruments (such as the piano, harp and marimba), in which each hand produces notes
independently, use a double staff with clefs that best accommodate the pitch range of these
instruments
▪ Guitars, despite being polyphonic instruments, use a simple staff
▪ The organ uses a triple staff (two for the hands and one for the pedals)
▪ Formations with more than one instrument use more complex systems

Examples:
Simple staff with a treble Grand (double) staff Grand staff with two Triple staff (for Staff for piano and
clef with a treble and a treble clefs organ) a soloist
bass clef

A string quartet staff A four-part choir

staff