2.1 Pitch and Pitch-Class
L E A R N I N G O B J E C T I V E S
1. Defining and understanding pitch versus pitch class.
2. Understanding the staff (staves) and the Grand Staff.
3. Understanding the use of clefs.
4. Understanding the use of ledger lines.
Pitch
1
is defined as the relative highness or lowness of sound. This is a general
definition: in music we speak of pitch as a specific tone that is specifically placed
and notated.
Pitch-class
2
, a relatively recent term, describes a generalized or
generic relationship of pitches that sound essentially identical but are separated by
a sense of highness or lowness. Pitch-class also refers to tones that share the same
“pitch-space,” that is, they sound identical, but are “spelled” differently.
The Staff
Since early notation was not specific as to exact placement of pitch, a system of
parallel horizontal lines came into use in order to show exact
placement.Interestingly, earlier systems of notation employing parallel lines had
been in use. Many used
only
the lines themselves to locate pitch, not the spaces
between. This
staff
3
originated as a system of eleven parallel lines that
encompassed the theoretical span of available pitches, which was the range of the
male voice from Bass to male Soprano.In St. Paul’s Epistle to the Corinthians he
delivers an injunction to “Let your women keep silence in the Church…” This
became the rationale for the exclusion of women from participation in the early
church. In practice, this complete system was limited to four or five parallel lines
encompassing the range of a given chant melody or voice part.
1. Pitch is relative highess or
lowness of sound. Individual
pitches are specifically located
and notated on the staff.
2. Pitch-classes are all those
pitches which share the same
letter name, or share the same
“pitch-space” but have
different spellings.
3. The Staff (or staves) is a system
of parallel lines used to locate
and notate specific pitches.
Chapter 2 The Elements of Pitch:Sound, Symbol, and Tone
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