When notes go up in pitch, they are said to be ascending or moving higher. This is represented in sheet music by the notes being placed higher on the staff. As the notes move up the staff, the frequency of the sound waves associated with those notes increases, resulting in a higher pitch.
Conversely, when notes go down in pitch, they are said to be descending or moving lower. In sheet music, this is represented by the notes being placed lower on the staff. As the notes move down the staff, the frequency of the sound waves decreases, resulting in a lower pitch.
The intervals between notes also play a role in determining whether the pitch is going up or down. Intervals refer to the distance between two notes on the musical staff. Larger intervals, such as octaves or fifths, indicate larger jumps in pitch, while smaller intervals, such as half steps or whole steps, indicate smaller changes in pitch.
Overall, the difference between notes going up and down in sheet music is determined by the placement of the notes on the staff and the intervals between them. These elements work together to create a melodic line that conveys the pitch and direction of the music.