10.1: Using Trinket

Pitch

Pitch classes are designated by their letter names followed by - for flat, # for sharp, or “n” for natural. Rests are designated by “r”.

In order to avoid confusion with rhythmic numbers, trinket uses a version of the Helmholtz register designation. So ISO Octave 4 (middle C up to the B above it) uses lower case letters:

c d e f g a b

ISO Octave 5 adds primes:

c' d' e' f' g' a' b'

ISO Octave 6 takes two primes (c’’), Octave 7 three primes (c’’’), etc.

Octave 3 (immediately below middle C) uses capital letters:

C D E F G A B

Octave 2 uses two capital letters:

CC DD EE FF GG AA BB

And so on.

Rhythm

Rhythms are designated by numbers representing note values—2 for half note, 4 for quarter note, etc.—and periods for dotted notes—2. for dotted half note, 4.. for doubly dotted quarter note, etc. These numbers immediately follow the pitches.

Ties are denoted by placing a ~ immediately after the rhythmic value.

Chords

To make a chord, simply put two or more notes within angled brackets (and put the rhythm outside the bracket).

<c e g>4. <d f>8

Lyrics

When using lyrics, simple type lyrics (or analytical notation) into the lyric box. Use a space to move on to the next note. When skipping a note, put a ~ for the notes that don’t take lyrics.

Example

Here is an example that uses many of the features listed above. (International readers, please forgive the movable-do!)