Changes

The key indicated can be overridden in any individual measure by using sharp, flat, or natural symbols to the left of the note. Once a single such marking appears, ''that variant'' of ''that note'' will persist for the duration of the measure without additional markings; however, it can still be overridden within the measure.

== Clef ==

The G and F clefs sometimes have an "8" directly below them, which indicates to play an octave higher than normal.

== Time Signature ==

The time signature not only determines the speed of the piece, by aligning the note markings to each beat of the tempo, but implies the rhythm or meter of the piece. The measures should roughly align to discrete musical ideas (melodies, harmonic progressions, etc.). By determining the number of beats per measure, the time signature creates a visual organization to the piece.

== Notes and Rhythm ==

Tuplets are indicated the same way they are in tab, with a bracket above the notes and the ratio or number above that.

== Measures ==

'''Measures''' indicate organization, often numbered to quickly refer to a section or place in the piece. Each measure is bound on the left and right by a pair of vertical lines from the top to bottom of the lines of the staff. Consecutive measures are divided by a single bar between them.

== Repeats and Codas ==

A symbol that looks like a division symbol (a slanted line with a dot to the upper left and lower right) indicates to repeat the previous beat or measure (which should be clear from the context).

== Dynamics and Accents ==

A ">" symbol above a note indicates to play it accented. A "^" above it indicates an even stronger accent.

== Other Markings ==

=== Octave Markings ===

"8va" with a line above notes indicates to play them one octave higher. "15ma" indicates two octaves higher.

== Sight Reading ==

=== Sight Singing ===

'''Sight Singing''' is sight reading music by singing it. This can be even more difficult than playing on an instrument, as you must hear the correct pitches in your head rather than simply locating the note on the instrument. Also, whereas with an instrument you may be intimately familiar with scale patterns and fingerings so that playing in a certain key comes naturally (such as simply by shifting positions on guitar), sight singing requires a strong understanding of possibly any key and hitting the correct note rather than being a half-step sharp/flat. This is assisted by singing the notes [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solf%C3%A8ge Solfège], which forces you to not only sing the correct pitch of the note but the correct scale degree.

[[Category:Skills]]

[[Category:Reference]]

[[Category:Notation]]