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18.5 · The Staff

Read your first melody

Below is a real melody, written the real way: noteheads on the staff say which pitch, the rhythm symbols above say how long. Follow the ring as it plays, then name what you see. You might even recognize the tune.

Watch it read itself

Eight notes, mostly steps, ending on a longer note. The ring follows the music.

𝄞𝅗𝅥

That's the opening of Beethoven's Ode to Joy.

Quiz · Read it back

1 / 3

What's the very first note of the melody?

Where to take this

The practice rooms use this same notation. The Melodic dictation room has you write what you hear; the Sight singing room has you sing what you read.

Open the practice rooms ▸
Score 100% on every quiz and game to complete this lesson.How phrases end