Handy tool for memorising the grand staff

[Wil]

I'm in the process of teaching myself to read music again, but for keys this time. Everything I learned for cello seems to have dropped from my brain, couldn't remember a single note on the staff. However, I found this handy tool and so far it's been very useful indeed - my treble cleff is pretty good now and the bass cleff is coming on slowly (no idea why I'm finding treble cleff easier to remember!).

[url="http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/pianoKeys.html"]http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/pianoKeys.html[/url]

It basically flashes up a note, and you then have to click the corresponding piano key. On the same website there are similar tools that omit the keyboard and replace with note names, in case you're not familiar with the notes on the piano.

[Eight]

My treble clef reading is next to useless these days.

But thought I'd post and mention that there's a pretty good app for bass players with iPods/iPhones called "Play This Note... Bass Edition".

Shows you a note on the staff and you have to hit the corresponding fret on a virtual fretboard. Apparently, it can also use the mic to let you play the notes on a real guitar but I've never tried that.

Edit: It's a nice way of improving the overall score->bass link instead of just seeing a dot and selecting C, D, F# etc.

Edited April 7, 2010 by Eight

[fatback]

[quote name='Wil' post='797073' date='Apr 5 2010, 11:28 PM']I'm in the process of teaching myself to read music again, but for keys this time. Everything I learned for cello seems to have dropped from my brain, couldn't remember a single note on the staff. However, I found this handy tool and so far it's been very useful indeed - my treble cleff is pretty good now and the bass cleff is coming on slowly (no idea why I'm finding treble cleff easier to remember!).

[url="http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/pianoKeys.html"]http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/pianoKeys.html[/url]

It basically flashes up a note, and you then have to click the corresponding piano key. On the same website there are similar tools that omit the keyboard and replace with note names, in case you're not familiar with the notes on the piano.[/quote]

Nice one. Thanks

[Wil]

This drill off the same site is really helping me get the staff in my head - it seems to encourage reading ahead too, which I'm sure will come in handy when it comes to sight reading: [url="http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/speedNoteNames.html"]http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/speedNoteNames.html[/url]

It's a bit quick for me at it's default speed setting, but I can manage it set to "50"... just about.