Here's a chance to read a funny poem and learn your note names at the same time. Some of the words in this poem are spelled out with music notes instead of alphabet letters. Figure out what the note names are and write them in the blanks below the notes to solve the puzzle. I Thought That I Was Crazy Treble Clef Note Names (Free). How to Read Sheet Music for Beginners: One of the first things that any beginning pianist learns to do, is to read music. Notes are the words that music uses to communicate with us, and in order to be able to read the language of music, we need to learn what the notes are so we can play. Treble Cat is an entertaining game designed to help students of all ages learn how to quickly identify notes in the treble clef. This will help to effortlessly improve sight reading skills. Get the full app: For iOS: here For Android: here Try Treble Cat Lite: For iOS: here For Android: here. How to Read Sheet Music Step 1: Learn the Basic Symbols of Notation. Music is made up of a variety of symbols, the most basic of which are the staff, the clefs, and the notes. All music contains these fundamental components, and to learn how to read music, you must first familiarize yourself with these basics.
How to Read and Write Kalimba Tablature
If it matters to you what notes you are going to play - that is, if you want to learn specific songs and want to achieve specific learning, Kalimba Tablature is a very good way to accomplish that. Tablature is a map of the kalimba that shows you which tines to play to make a song.
div > .uk-panel', row:true}'>Why and How of Kalimba Tablature
I have written hundreds of songs on the kalimba, but, unless I take action, most of them are gone by the time I wake up the next day. To make it easy to save my kalimba ideas for another day, I invented a kalimba tablature, a visually intuitive diagram or map of the kalimba that shows you which tines to play to produce a song or exercise. The tablature to the right is for the 15-note Alto kalimba, and is the song Mwana Aboyi Mama from the 1968 Hugh Tracey manual. The black center line represents a line separating left from right; the measures are numbered on the right side of the tablature; you read from bottom to the top; each tine is labeled with its note name at the bottom; the repeat signs are green here; and the note symbols indicate the tines to play as well as how long to wait between plucking this tine and when you pluck the next.
I use this kalimba tablature to help me remember new songs I write; as a tool that gives me an easy way to put down, one note at a time, what i am composing; as an instructional tool to convey detailed musical ideas to students; and as a tool to help me learn difficult passages that my mind has created but my hands don't yet understand. I have written dozens of kalimba books and instructional downloads using this tablature.
Demonstration of Kalimba Tablature with Greensleeves
The Goshen Box 8-Note Kalimba plays along with KTabS to demo the tablature.
![Treble cat 1 3 – learn to read musical Treble cat 1 3 – learn to read musical](https://spinnup.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/spinnup-social.jpg)
Comparing Kalimba Tablature with Staff Notation
For comparison's sake, I have reproduced Mwana Aboyi Mama in standard staff notation, which of course reads left to right. The advantage to using staff notation is that anyone who has achieved a degree of facility with music notation could sing or play it on piano. However, it is a major challenge to read this music and play it on the kalimba, and the reasons include, first, that in addition to being familiar with music notation, you also need to already know where each note is on the kalimba. Plus you will have to separate out which notes are played by the right thumb and which by the left thumb. And last, there can be a lot of difficulty when trying to go from reading standard notation and understanding the linearity of it - notes low on the staff are low and those higher up are higher notes, and instinctually knowing where to sing or play these - to playing an instrument that is extremely different, divided in half, and played only with the thumbs. The gift of kalimba tablature is that it takes all those issues away. One need only follow it like a treasure map to produce the right notes, in the right order, and in the right timing. Whether you know standard notation, or have no musical experience at all, kalimba tablature gives you the key to making music on a kalimba.
The Tablature is a Map of the Kalimba
It is not that hard to look at the kalimba tablature and recognize that it is a map of the kalimba, and to see how to trace out the steps required to play a song. If there are two notes at the same horizontal level on the tablature, they are to be played at the same time. In this example, both first notes appear on shaded tines; these correspond with the painted tines on the kalimba. Go to the notes just up the page to learn which tines are to be played next. In this example, you can see that the right thumb plays the tine one further right from the tine it just played, and the left thumb plays the tine one further left from the tine it just played.
Children with no musical experience, and adults who never thought they could play music, can read this tablature and have a highly successful musical experience with the kalimba. In other words, kalimba tablature provides an avenue for learning kalimba that can work for almost anyone who has the patience to sit down and go after it step by step.
It is a lot like looking over the shoulder of someone who already knows how to play the kalimba - but the tablature will never get impatient with you no matter how many times you need to repeat something!
Geometrical Patterns
When I play kalimba, I can often see geometrical patterns dancing on the kalimba tines. When looking at a song written out on kalimba tablature, these geometrical patterns can be very noticeable (see the diagram to the right with the pattern marked to make it highly visible). Sometimes I use a geometrical pattern to lead me to a song or at least it can give me the seed for a song, and it is a wonderful feeling when one comes out of it. And you can use a memorable geometrical pattern to remember a song and play it by heart.
More on Reading Tablature
The kalimba tablature is an elongated map of the kalimba, and reads from bottom up. It is totally connected to what your thumbs need to do to make music. Using tablature, you won't waste any time figuring out where a given note is supposed to be played on your kalimba, left or right side—the tablature shows you exactly which tine to play to accomplish the song you need to make.
Tablature is flexible and can accommodate all types of kalimba; ones that have few tines or ones that are packed with them. Total video player 2 5 0 download free. If your kalimba has fewer tines, that kalimba's tablature will also have fewer tines, just like the 8-note tablature in the diagram.
There is one disadvantage to tablature: until you have a lot of experience reading it, you probably won't be able to look at a song notated in tablature and know exactly what it will sound like. You'll just have to play it to hear the song.
Kalimba Tablature and A Few Music Basics
Music is based on a recurring cycle in time, and a measure is one of the smallest units of that recurring cycle. Bars demarcate the beginning and end of a measure; in this tablature, the bars are the dark horizontal lines next to the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to the right of the tablature. The numbers indicate measures; the first measure is between 1 and 2, the second is between 2 and 3, and so on. The same amount of time goes by in each measure, and notes are the pulses of that time. The more notes there are in between the bars, the faster you need to play the notes. Kalimba tablature uses the same note symbols as standard staff notation (quarter notes, eighth notes, etc.) which describe how long a note is held. The timing of a piece of music is dictated by a fraction, called the 'time signature'. (See the 4/4 at the bottom left of the tablature diagram.) The top 4 indicates 4 beats per measure, and the bottom 4 means that a quarter note is given one beat. In this example, the whole note gets four beats, half notes get two beats, quarter notes get one beat, and eighth notes each get half a beat.
Chords are multiple notes played at the same time, producing a harmonic sound. An example of a chord in kalimba tablature appears just above the bar in Measure 5 in the tablature diagram above. Arpeggios (the sounding of the notes of a chord in rapid succession instead of simultaneously) are often played on adjacent tines as in Measure 3. Scales zig-zag back and forth on kalimba; notes progress outward to go up the scale as in Measure 4, or inward toward the center to go down the scale.
More Help with Notation
If you don't understand the rules for all of the symbols used in musical notation, you are in LUCK! This subject is covered in a series of blog posts Learn to Read Tablature 1, andLearn to Read Tablature 2. andLearn to Read Tablature 3.
Learning kalimba by playing old favorites
Learning musical notation may be difficult at first, but one of the nicer features of our instructional materials is that they include a lot of songs that you probably know very well, which makes learning to play them a lot simpler. Look at the opening two measures of Joy to the World. Imagine you have a little 8-note kalimba in your hands, and each thumb has only four notes with which to concern themselves. Start on the far left tine - it is the highest note, and you can tell this because it is the shortest tine (look at the tine lengths at the bottom of the tablature). Alternate left to right as you go, and notice that each subsequent left-side note is one tine inward (toward the center) from the previous left-side note, and same with the right side. The words to the right clinch it by helping you coordinate the familiar notes, words and rhythm of this old standby. Of course you can play this song on the kalimba!
Simple tunes, complex tunes
Yes, kalimba tablature is fundamentally simple to read, but that does not restrict you to playing simple music. It is possible to notate very complex music with the tablature, as can be seen in the first four bars of Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
As you can see there are many notes to play, some on the same single beat of a measure. There are a couple of techniques used to deal with these instances. On the second beat of the first measure (at the word 'the'), there are three notes to be played, G on the left and B and D on the right. While you place your left thumbnail over the G, place your right thumbnail in between the B and D tines, and pluck downward on all three at once and ta-daa! It makes a beautiful G chord with B in the bass. (You can always look down at the bottom of the tab to be reminded of what notes are being played.) Now look at the third beat of measure 3 ( at the word 'to'). Do you see the five notes for you to play all at once? You will need to do a glissando to play that. A glissando is most easily accomplished if you have between 1/16 and 3/16 of an inch of thumb nail extending beyond the thumb flesh. Touch the C, the lowest (closest to the kalimba's center) of the five notes, with your thumb nail, and drag it slowly across the other notes, E, G, B, D, and then stop. What chord is that? A CM9 (C major ninth) in the pop charts, or C79 (C seven ninth) in classical music theory.
Treble Cat 1 3 – Learn To Read Musical
As you can see, the tablature is very simple, yet it is very capable.
Tablature - your key to the kalimba world
Now, you don't really have to read tablature to play kalimba - I played for 18 years before I invented the tablature. But tablature will open up a whole new world of understanding, knowledge, and music to you. The books, theinstructional downloads, the current blog posts, thecurrent tips, the advanced tips of the day, and some of the newsleter articles use this tablature. You can send tablature easily by email. You can write it on paper or on your computer. It puts you in touch with a world of kalimba music and innovation. It is fast, easy, and fun to read and write. So, what are you waiting for?
Treble Cat 1 3 – Learn To Read Music Notes
Tablature-based Books and Downloads for Various Kalimbas
We have almost 60 books and downloads available for the kalimba. They are all organized by kalimba on this handy page:
Next Up: KTabS - Kalimba Tablature Software
KTabS is a marvelous software program that can be used to create tablature for any kalimba and any tune. KTabS was created by kalimba enthusiasts Randy and Sharon Eaton. People around the world have begun using KTabS and kalimba tablature to notate kalimba music, and I use it almost every day. All of the tablature examples on this page were written in KTabS, quickly and painlessly. And what's more, since KTabS plays the notes as you click on the tines on the screen, and the whole song can be played back at any point, I no longer make errors in my kalimba tablature.
Click on to the next section to learn more about KTabS.
div > .uk-panel', row:true}'>Questions?
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us via the email form, or speak directly to Mark Holdaway at 520-488-7641.
Sight reading seems to be one of those challenges that either a beginning musician loves or has recurring nightmares about. For those of us in the latter category, we’ve consulted with music educators who specialize in the important skill of sight reading music to make it less scary and (maybe even) a little enjoyable!
Daily Sight-Reading Prep
The first few tips and tricks we have for you apply to the things you can do on a daily basis to improve your sight-reading skills!
1. Familiarize Yourself with a Variety of Rhythms
Sightreading can look different based on whether you are an instrumentalist or a vocalist, but there is one thing both groups have in common: rhythm. Familiarizing yourself with a variety of rhythms (4/4, 3/4, 6/8, etc.) will help you to be ready in any situation. Here’s a website we found with helpful, free rhythm exercises.
2. Memorize Key Signatures
Memorizing your key signatures is especially helpful for instrumentalists, as you need to be aware of how many sharps or flats are coming up in your upcoming sight-reading exercise. It can also be helpful for vocalists if you’re timbre is more comfortable in certain key signatures. This may take a bit of time initially, but in the long run, it will not only make sight-reading easier but practicing and performing too!
3. Know Your Scales
For instrumentalists, knowing your scales will help you tangibly memorize your key signatures. It will also create muscle memory for fingerings and hand placement for each key signature so that when you begin to sight-read, your hands will do what they are used to doing!
For singers, scales have a different purpose. Many singers use scales in the form of Solfège Busycal 3 5 7 download free. , an exercise used for sight-reading vocal music in which each scale degree is assigned a coordinating syllable. Solfège helps vocalists to memorize intervals, so they can easily identify pitches, regardless of what key they are in. Check out our article: Solfège: What Is It, And How Is It Used? to learn more!
![Treble cat 1 3 – learn to read musical Treble cat 1 3 – learn to read musical](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/27/44/fd/2744fd2bc9c163cbe64f0afc1e4d4a3b.jpg)
If you are a vocalist who prefers not to use solfège you should still practice your scales so that you can be familiar with the tonality differences in major and minor keys, as well as intervals between pitches.
4. Practice Without A Saftey Net
We’ve all used safety nets when it comes to sightreading. We think to ourselves, I can definitely sight-read this, but just to be sure…
For example, an instrumentalist might look down at their hands while they attempt to sight-read. A vocalist might use a piano to define those hard-to-read-notes. Whatever you use for your safety net, do your best to practice without it. It’s good to make mistakes. Without them, how can you learn?
5. Practice Sight-Reading Different Types of Music
When it comes to sight-reading, you never really know what you’re going to get. You could be presented with anything from a lively tango to a slow jazz ballad. If you’re a vocalist, you might even be presented with different languages! So in order to avoid sheer panic, familiarize yourself with different styles of music, rhythms, and scores. You’ll be able to relax when you’re presented with a new piece of music and you can say, “Oh yeah! I’ve seen this before.”
Right Before Sight-Reading
There are a few things you should do before diving straight into your sight-reading…
6. Examine The Piece You’re Sight-Reading
Before you begin to play or sing, take a moment to mentally digest the music in front of you. Tap out the rhythm, read through the notes, and follow the structure of the song. Also, take a moment to identify any spots or page turns that may cause you trouble.
7. Identify Annotations in the Piece
Sight-reading is more than just notes and rhythm! Take a moment to look for any dynamic changes or musical direction notated within the piece. Also, pay close attention to tempo and time signatures to make sure they don’t change within the song. Showing that you can follow annotations will demonstrate impressive musicality.
8. Make Markings on the Paper (Or on Your Tablet/iPad)
If you are allowed to make markings in your music ahead of time, DO IT! As we mentioned earlier, you will want to take notice of any areas in the music that might give you trouble. For example, if you’re a vocalist and you see a big jump in the vocal line, you may want to circle or highlight it. You will likely be trying to remember a lot of things while you are sight-reading, so visual reminders can be very helpful in the moment.
9. Sound the Whole Piece out in Your Head
Last but not least, go through the entire piece from start to finish as if you were giving a mental performance. If allowed, you can even hum the song as you read. Though it’s important to pay attention to the details, it’s also important to get an idea of the song in its entirety. As you are going through, ask yourself these questions:
- Where is the climax of the song?
- What is the main melody?
- Are there any patterns repeated throughout?
- Does the song have definitive sections?
During The Sight-Reading
10. Breathe, Relax and Keep Going, Even If You Make a Mistake
Sight-reading isn’t meant to be perfect. And just like anything else you do, the more you practice, the better you will get! So don’t focus on the mistakes that you make during the performance, and don’t feel as though you have to stop and correct them. Just keep going, do the best you can, and remember that by testing your abilities as a musician, you are making yourself better in the long run.
Happy reading, and remember to stay musical!
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above may be 'affiliate links.' This means if you click on the link and make a purchase, Musicnotes will receive an affiliate commission. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255: 'Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.'