Rhythm and Staff Notation

Introduction

Music can be written down so performers anywhere can read and play it. The Kenyan CBC Music and Dance learning area uses both staff notation and tonic solfa (do-re-mi), and also studies the rhythm of Kenyan traditional songs and dances such as the Kikuyu Mugithi, Luo Orutu music, Mijikenda Chakacha and Kamba Kilumi.

The stave and clefs

• The stave (staff) has five lines and four spaces, counted from the bottom.
• Treble clef fixes the G above middle C and is used for high voices and instruments (violin, flute).
• Bass clef fixes F below middle C and is used for low voices and instruments (bass guitar, cello).
• Notes above or below the stave use ledger lines.
• Treble clef lines: E G B D F ("Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit"); spaces: F A C E.

Note and rest values

A dot adds half the note's value: dotted crotchet = 1 + 1/2 = 1 1/2 beats. A tie joins two notes of the same pitch to make one longer sound.

Time signature

Two numbers at the start of a piece:

• Top number: beats per bar.
• Bottom number: the type of beat (4 = crotchet, 8 = quaver).

Common examples: 2/4 (march), 3/4 (waltz), 4/4 (common time), 6/8 (two groups of three quavers). Bar lines divide music into bars (measures).

Worked example 1: fill a bar

In 3/4 time, a bar has a crotchet and a quaver. Total = 1 + 1/2 = 1 1/2 beats. Needed = 3, so 1 1/2 beats remain: add a dotted crotchet.

Worked example 2: counting

In 4/4, count a bar of "crotchet, crotchet, minim" as "1, 2, 3 (hold) 4". Total = 1 + 1 + 2 = 4 beats.

Scales and key

A scale is a series of notes in order of pitch. The major scale pattern is tone-tone-semitone-tone-tone-tone-semitone. C major has no sharps or flats: C D E F G A B C.

• Tonic solfa: do = C, re = D, mi = E, fa = F, so = G, la = A, ti = B.
• A key signature shows sharps or flats; G major has one sharp (F#).

Dynamics and tempo

• Dynamics: p (soft), f (loud), mf (medium loud), crescendo (gradually louder).
• Tempo: allegro (fast), moderato (moderate), adagio (slow).

Rhythm in African music

African traditional music often uses polyrhythm (many rhythms at once), call and response, and repeated patterns on drums and shakers. Dancers' movements follow the beat.

Try it

• Clap and write the rhythm of "Malaika" or another song you know.
• Write a bar of 3/4 using a minim and a crotchet.
• Name the notes on the lines and spaces of the treble clef.
• Sing the C major scale in tonic solfa.