MyLeoNes™

High and low sounds — Music, 4–6 years

Some sounds seem high, like a bird’s call, and others seem low, like a large drum. This difference is called pitch, and it is not the same as loudness.

What is pitch?

Pitch tells us whether a sound seems high or low. A tiny whistle can be high, while a big drum can be low, although instruments can surprise us. Singing a sliding “oooo-eeeee” lets you feel the pitch change.

Why do we notice pitch?

Different pitches let a melody travel up and down instead of staying on one sound. This helps us recognise a tune, sing with others and hear whether notes match. People have used high and low voices in songs for thousands of years.

Sorting sounds by pitch

Make two sounds: tap a glass gently with a spoon, then tap a larger glass. Listen carefully rather than judging by size. If the first rings higher and the second rings lower, you can put them in a high-to-low order.

High is not loud

A loud sound can feel important, so it is easy to call it high. But high and low describe pitch, while loud and quiet describe volume. A tiny, quiet whistle may be high; a huge, loud drum may be low.

Pitch in everyday life

Pitch helps us tell a bird’s call from a dog’s bark, even before we see the animal. It shapes questions, songs and warning beeps. A lift’s changing beep or a microwave’s signal can use pitch to catch our attention.

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