Figure 2.1

The Guidonian Staff

Pitches were assigned specific names. The lowest pitch, called

gamma

, extended to

the highest pitch,

ut

: the contraction of these two terms,

gamut

, has entered the

language to mean “a complete range or scope.”

The eleven-line system is visually cumbersome. In early music specific lines were
colored with different dyes, each line locating a specific pitch. All other pitches
were held in relation to these. In time, the eleven-line staff was separated into two
five-line staves. The remaining line between the two staves was not drawn, but was
understood as being “shared” by each staff.

Specific symbols came into use, replacing the colored lines. Clefs (French-“

key

”)

served the same purpose as colored lines, locating exact pitches around which all
other pitches were calculated. These clefs represented general voice ranges and
their names reflect this.

We label pitch-classes by the use of letter-names. Other labels are discussed in

Section 2.2 "Chromatic Alteration: Accidentals"

. The Treble Clef (or “G-clef”),

nominally indicating a high voice, locates the pitch “G” on the second line up on the
staff.

The Bass Clef (or “F-clef”) locates the pitch “F” on the fourth line up on the staff.
From these two fixed points, all other pitches were calculated and placed on the
five-line staff.

Figure 2.2 "Treble Clef and Staff; Bass Clef and Staff"

shows the Treble

and Bass Clefs and pitch placement on lines and spaces.

Chapter 2 The Elements of Pitch:Sound, Symbol, and Tone

2.1 Pitch and Pitch-Class

56