{"id":12067,"date":"2016-02-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-02-03T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hearandplay.com\/main\/?p=12067"},"modified":"2024-10-14T17:32:47","modified_gmt":"2024-10-15T01:32:47","slug":"musical-homonyms-importance-spelling-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hearplaymain.wpenginepowered.com\/musical-homonyms-importance-spelling-music\/","title":{"rendered":"Musical Homonyms: The Importance of Spelling in Music"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spelling is simply the breakdown<\/em> of a word into smaller parts known as letters.<\/p>\n

In this post, I’ll be challenging your perception by showing you the importance of spelling<\/strong> in music.<\/p>\n

“Are You Mail or Female?”<\/em><\/p>\n

The question above can only appear distorted because you are reading it.<\/p>\n

If this question was instead asked orally or out loud, you probably wouldn’t have perceived the word “mail” there. This is because the words mail<\/em> and male<\/em> have the same pronunciation.<\/p>\n

The only thing that can help one distinguish between the two is spelling. Check out the spelling of both words:<\/p>\n

Mail is spelled as M-A-I-L while male is spelled as M-A-L-E.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Several examples of words that sound alike but are spelled differently can be found in the English language. These words are called homonyms<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

“What Does Spelling Have To Do With Music?”<\/em><\/h2>\n

Spelling is very important in music because it helps us breakdown <\/em>ideas into smaller and recognizable parts.<\/p>\n

Scales, intervals, chords, and chord progressions can be spelled. This spelling gives us an idea of the notes they are made up of. Here’s how it works…<\/p>\n

Scale Spelling<\/h3>\n

A scale is a succession of notes in ascending or descending order (basic definition).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here’s the\u00a0 C major scale:
\n
\n…which is arguably the first scale most beginners are exposed to. <\/p>\n

In a beginners’ class where the teacher might want to guide all students to play the C major scale correctly, spelling the scale as C, D, E, F, G, A, and B (letter for letter) becomes important.<\/p>\n

Interval Spelling<\/h3>\n

An interval is the relationship between two notes, based on the distance between them.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here’s a major third interval in the key of\u00a0 C major:
\n
\nThis interval is spelled C-E.<\/p>\n

Take note that intervals can be inverted. When the major third is inverted, this will produce the minor sixth interval in the key of E major:
\n
\n…spelled as E-C.<\/p>\n

Chord Spelling<\/h3>\n

A chord is a collection of related <\/em>notes (aka – “pitches”), which may sound pleasant or not.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here’s the classic C major triad:
\n
\n…spelled as C-E-G.<\/p>\n

Just like intervals, chords can be inverted. The inversion of the C major triad will produce E-G-C:
\n
\n…which is known as the first inversion<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Chord Progression Spelling<\/h3>\n

The movement of chords from one degree of the scale to another is known as chord progressions<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Below is a chord progression from the first to the fourth degree of the major scale in the key of C major:<\/p>\n

Chord 1 – C major:
\n
\nChord 4 – F major:
\n
\nChord progressions are also spelled but spelling here is built on a number system. The numbers one to seven are used to represent every degree of the major scale.<\/p>\n

I said that to say that this progression is spelled as 1-4.<\/p>\n

Therefore, it wouldn’t be wrong for us to label the chord progression from chord 1 to chord 4 in the key of C major as a “1-4 chord progression.”<\/p>\n

“Why Should I Bother With Spelling When I Can Play It?”<\/em><\/h2>\n

Remember the\u00a0 “Are you mail or female” <\/em>question? There is nothing wrong with this question if asked verbally.<\/p>\n

But think about the dissonance between mail and female<\/strong>, and how quickly your mind takes you to the right thing – male. Read these questions out loud…<\/p>\n

“Are you mail<\/strong> or female?”<\/em><\/p>\n

“Are you male<\/strong> or female?”<\/em><\/p>\n

Out loud, even though both questions sound identical, that doesn’t mean we’ll forsake the need to spell it correctly.<\/p>\n

Spelling male as mail happens a lot in music and this is because music, just like any other language, has homonyms. In practical playing, the intervals C-D# and C-Eb sound alike.<\/p>\n

C-D#:
\n
\nC-Eb:
\n
\nHowever, it is important to know that in the same way mail<\/em> can’t take the place of male<\/em>in the question “Are you male or female?”, <\/em>it is also impossible for the interval C-D# to take the place of C-Eb in music.<\/p>\n

I know they sound alike, but they have their characteristic differences. Here are two notable ones:<\/p>\n

Compass<\/strong>: C-D# is a second while C-Eb is a third. In terms of size (aka – “compass”), C-Eb is wider than C-D# and this is because the width of an interval depends on the number of letter names<\/a> it spans, and not the way it appears on the keyboard. C-D# spans two letter names, C and D, while C-Eb spans three letter names, C, D, and E.<\/p>\n

Relationship:<\/strong> The relationship between two notes can sound pleasant or unpleasant, stable or unstable, consonant or dissonant. The relationship D# has with C is different than the relationship between Eb and C. C and D#, when played together, will produce an augmented second<\/em>, which for all intents and purposes, is a harsh interval (aka – “dissonant interval”) as opposed to C and Eb, which is a minor third<\/em> interval and thus, pleasant.<\/p>\n

Check out this C minor triad:
\n
\nTo be candid, there’s nothing wrong with playing this C minor triad. However, spelling it will produce the greatest distortion you can think of.<\/p>\n

C minor triad is traditionally built off thirds<\/a> (intervals that encompass three letters) and played with the notes C, Eb, and G:
\n
\nSpelling it as C-D#-G will produce the same distortion as the question “Are you mail or female?”\u00a0<\/em>produced (if not more).<\/p>\n

Welcome to Our Spelling Guidelines Series<\/h2>\n

We have emphasized the importance of spelling over the years. The most recent being:<\/p>\n

Naming Notes Correctly (“Musical Spelling Bee”)<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

However, you’ll do well to also check out the following posts:<\/p>\n