Music Fundamentals A Balanced Approach

Theory Trainer

(Your instructor will assign the number of exercises to complete.)

Exercise 1aFind white keys on the staff (both clefs).

Exercise 1bFind white keys on the keyboard (both clefs).

Octave Higher (8va) or Octave Lower (8vb)

The symbols 8va and 8vb are used when too many ledger lines are needed to notate a note and it becomes
difficult to read. The sign 8va(Italian: all’ ottava,or “at the octave”) tells you to play a note or a series of notes
an octave higher than written. The 8va is notated abovethe note or notes to be played an octave higher and is
followed by a dotted line ending with a downstroke.
When 8vb(Italian: ottava bassa,or “at the octave below”) is notated belowthe note or notes to be played
an octave lower, it is followed by a dotted line ending with an upstroke. The sign 8va may be used in place of
8vb; it will be placed below the note or notes and will be followed by the dotted line ending with the upstroke.
Your instructor will tell you which sign to use.
The examples below show three notes on the left, which are to be played an octave higher or lower than
written. Their sounding pitches are drawn on the right.

On the keyboard below, the sounding pitches (S) are an octave higherthan the written pitches (W).

BASICS OF PITCH

E G A E G A

Written pitches Sounding pitches, an octave higher

is the same as

Workbook Exercises 1.14–1.18

B G F

??

B G F

Written pitches Sounding pitches, an octave lower

is the same as

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