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Clefs

There are 4 different types of clef. 

Treble

The treble clef shows all the notes above middle C.
​It is also called the G clef.
​The twirl loops around the G line!

Alto

The alto clef shows all the notes around middle C. 
The two swirls meet at middle C.

Tenor

The tenor clef shows all the notes around middle C. 
It is in a slightly different position to alto clef but looks the same and the two swirls also meet at middle C.

Bass

The bass clef are all the notes below middle C. 
It is also called F clef.
The two dots frame the F. 

The most common clefs are treble and bass. This is because the notes on these staves are used by the majority of instruments.
Alto and tenor clefs are used by fewer instruments because they have more limited notes they can play in these ranges. So! Instruments like the viola's use alto clef because their range of notes is all around middle C.
Singers use SATB, which stands for Soprano, alto, tenor and bass. Each singer sings in a different pitch range so they use different clefs to make it easier for them to read the music.

ABRSM Music theory question 2.1
This questions is designed to assess your ability to read all of the clefs. It will show you a note on a stave and you have to answer by ticking the option with the correct note. 

Practice Questions

Enharmonic equivalent notes

For this it is really helpful to know the notes of the piano. 

An enharmonic equivalent is when tow notes sound the same.
For example, D# is the same note as Eb. 
​It is helpful to play these two notes on your harp so you can hear that they are the same. 
You can also see this on a piano.

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Double sharps and double flats
These aim to make the music easier to read when there are modulations and accidentals added that are not usually expected. They are not too common but, you do need to know them for grade 5 ABRSM music theory. 

Double Flat

This is when a note is lowered by two semitones. 
C double flat sounds the same as Bb. 
​An easy way to work this out is to just go down two steps on the piano keyboard. 

Flat

This is when a note is lowered by one semitone. (This is a tricky one)
C flat sounds the same as B. 
​An easy way to work this out is to just go down one step on the piano keyboard. 

Natural

This is what a natural sign looks like. It is used when the note has previously been sharpened or flattened to show the player that they should play the note as a natural again. If the note does not have an accidental and it is not sharpened or flattened in the key signature you should always treat it as a natural.

Sharp

This is when a note is raised by one semitone. 
C becomes C sharp.
​An easy way to work this out is to just go up one step on the piano keyboard. 

Double Sharp

This is when a note is raised by two semitones. 
C becomes D.
​An easy way to work this out is to just go up two steps on the piano keyboard. 

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ABRSM Music theory question 2.2
This questions is designed to assess your ability to understand enharmonic equivalent notes. It will show you a note on a stave, followed by 3 more notes. You have to match one of the three notes to the first note.
Top Tip! ​Make sure you work out what all of the notes are before you choose. Sometimes they can be tricky!!! You are allowed to write notes on note paper. 

Practice Questions

Transposition

This is a big section and it is worth reading the transposing for harp page before you start with this explanation. 

Transposing for harp

ABRSM Music theory question 2.3
Once you have read and taken in all the information on how to transpose you can apply it to the music theory questions in an exam. 
​Finding the Interval
In an exam we are asked to check and see if an extract of music has been correctly transposed by a certain interval to another. 
So, here we go! 
Look at the extract below and we will work it through like the questions in a theory paper.
Question: Has the extract been transposed correctly up a major 3rd? Tick or cross the key signature and each note.

Instructions

1. First things first! Key signatures. The first extract is in D major. Get your harp into D major. (This makes it easier to check your answer and relate these questions back to your harp practice, which is the whole point of learning it really hey!) The question wants you to move the music up a major 3rd. On your harp count up 3 strings. (Remember to count the string you are on). You should end up on an F. Check to see if the transposed extract is in F major … it is!!!!!!! Tick tick tick that purple box because the key has been transposed up a major 3rd.

1. Next for each note - compare the extracts to see if they are the correct intervals away from each other. Put your finger on the D string, is the G a 3rd above the D? Count up the strings…. NO! So thats a big old cross in the ORANGE box under the note. Continue for all of the other notes. (These boxes are not on the exam paper so just get in the habit of ticking and crossing above the notes. Its really important in high anxiety environments to stick to your methods and habits to make sure you don’t make silly mistakes because you are nervous).
2. Now for each note check the accidentals (or lack of accidentals) are correct! Lets check those semitones! Fill out the PURPLE boxes. Look at the interval/semitone table above. A major 3rd has 4 semitones. So for each note check the amount of semitones - even ones with crosses as there might be a pesky double flat or sharp in there and it also give you a chance to double check your counting! Lets take the first two notes. D to the G. Put your finger on the D key below. Count up 4 semitones or steps - which is a major third. You land on an F. Not a G so thats still a cross. Put a cross in the purple box. This is your final answer. Now, see if you can do the same with all the other notes. ​

In an exam you don’t have the luxury of having your harp or a piano. But you have scrap paper! So draw them!!!! This isn’t breaking any rules and is a really good way to bring your  happy place into the exam!

Practice Questions