Understanding the meaning of various musical symbols is the crux of piano sheet music reading. These symbols were devised more than 1,000 years ago and have become the cornerstone of musical notation in the Western world. With clear and helpful instructions, the world of written music will be at your fingertips. Here are 10 easy ways to learn musical symbols.
# 1 – The simpler the note, the harder! A simple oval (a whole note) is worth 4 beats.
# 2 – Add a stem and halve its value. An oval with a stem (a middle note) is worth 2 beats.
# 3 – Color it black and cut its value in half. A black oval with a stem (a black one) is worth 1 time.
# 4 – If you add a period after a note, you add half its value. An average grade is worth 2 times. A dotted middle note is worth 2 + 1 = 3 beats.
# 5 – If you see a # sign, this is called sharp. It refers to the black notes of the piano. C is a white note. C # is the next quarter note from C.
# 6 – If you see a “b” sign (it will be a pointed b), this is called a flat. Again it refers to the black notes of the piano. D is a white note. Db is the next quarter note from D.
# 7 – “p” in music means piano. This means playing quietly.
# 8 – “f” in music means forte. This means playing out loud.
# 9 – The treble clef refers to the notes above Middle C on the piano.
# 10 – The bass clef refers to the notes below the middle C.