HELMHOLTZ PITCH NOTATION

'Helmholtz pitch notation' is a musical system for naming notes of the Western chromatic scale. Developed by the German scientist Hermann von Helmholtz, it uses a combination of upper and lower case letters (A to G),^[1] and the sub- and super-prime symbols ( ˌ ′ ) to describe each individual note of the scale. It is one of two formal systems for naming notes in a particular octave, the other being scientific pitch notation.^[2]

Contents

History

Usage

Variations

Staff representation

References

External links

History

Helmholtz developed this system in order to accurately define pitches in his classical work on acoustics ''Die Lehre von den Tonempfindungen als physiologische Grundlage für die Theorie der Musik'' (1863) translated into English by A. J. Ellis as ''On the Sensations of Tone'' (1875).^[3] The system is now used widely by musicians across Europe, and by scientists and doctors when discussing the scientific and medical aspects of sound in relation to the auditory system.^[4]

Usage

The Helmholtz scale always starts on C and ends at B (C, D, E, F, G, A, B). The note C is shown in different octaves in the following sequence: Cˌˌ Cˌ C c c′ c″ c″′ and so on.
Middle C is designated c′, therefore the octave upwards from middle c is c′-b′.
Each octave is also given a name based on the "German method" (see below). For example, the octave from c′-b′ is called the ''one-line octave''.

Variations

★ The ''English multiple C notation'' uses repeated Cs in place of the sub-prime symbol. Therefore Cˌ is rendered as CC.

★ The ''German method'' replaces the "prime" with a horizontal bar above the letter.

Staff representation

This diagram gives examples of the lowest and highest note in each octave, giving their name in the Helmholtz system, and the "German method" of octave nomenclature. (The octave below the contra octave is known as the sub-contra octave).

References

1. The letter B is used in Germany to designate a standard B flat, H is used for B natural.
2. Schmidt-Jones, Catherine Octaves and the Major-Minor Tonal System. Retrieved on 2007-08-03.
3. The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music: ''Hermann von Helmholtz, Oxford University Press (1994), ''Answers.com''. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
4. Blood, Brian. "music theory online: staffs, clefs & pitch notation". Retrieved on 2007-08-02.

External links

★ Music theory online: staffs, clefs & pitch notation

★ Octaves and the Major-Minor Tonal System