The methods, rules, and conventions for representing music visually.
33
votes
4answers
8k views
How do you draw a quarter rest with a pen/pencil?
It seems to me that the quarter rest we see everywhere was drawn with a calligraphy pen. I don't have one of those - I have a sharpened/mechanical pencil or a ball-point pen. So usually when I try to ...
23
votes
8answers
1k views
Key signature for writing in modes other than major and minor
I have trouble deciding what accidentals to put in the key signature for pieces in dorian, phrygian, lydian or mixolydian modes. There seem to be tradeoffs associated with each choice.
For example, ...
19
votes
1answer
478 views
What is this : Half notes combined with thirty-second stems?
I want to play Also Sprach Zarathustra (IMSLP PDF), but there is something I don't understand there. In the first few bars there are 4 half notes beamed in pairs as thirty-second notes. Because the ...
17
votes
4answers
693 views
Why do we need note names like B♭, D♭ etc.? Why not use only A♯, C♯ and so on?
The very same sharp/flat tones can be written in two ways:
C♯ is the same as D♭
D♯ is the same as E♭
…and so on
This is so confusing. What is the reason for it? ...
15
votes
1answer
808 views
13
votes
5answers
900 views
Symbols “M”, “C”, “D”, and “P” in Guitar Tablature
I was reading a songbook by Richie Kotzen, and in the song "Shine" (which he played with Mr. Big), there's a rythm guitar part that goes like this:
What do the symbols M, C, D and P mean? I'm ...
12
votes
1answer
1k views
Why is C the base note of standard notation and keys?
Why is it that notes "start" with C? In key signatures, for example, C Major is the basis and accidentals are added for all other key signatures. I know that the musical alphabet starts with A and ...
11
votes
8answers
224 views
Should I learn to read standard notation?
I've been playing guitar for the last two years, and never came in contact with pieces in standard notation. This is probably because I never had any lessons, and am self-taught.
But the thing I ...
11
votes
2answers
263 views
With sheet music, what happens with sharps and double sharps that are already sharped in the key signature?
For example, let's say the key signature has an f sharp and then also an individual f note has a sharp next to it. Are they just emphasizing the f sharp or does that actually become a g?
Same ...
11
votes
2answers
131 views
How do I read this text-only musical notation from Wikipedia
I have practically no music notation experience, so please consider me a dummie when answering.
I am reading this Wikipedia article, about the clave rhythm. They use a text only notation looking ...
11
votes
1answer
155 views
Four dotted sixteenths in a triplet
The following excerpt is from a piece called Brincado by the Brazilian composer Alberto Nepomuceno from the collection 5 Little Pieces for the Left Hand (imslp)
How should I count this?
11
votes
3answers
288 views
Why is a note sometimes a 4th and sometimes an 11th?
If I play the chord: GBDA, then this is considered a Gadd9. But if I play the 3rd above the 5th (GDB), it is not called a 10th.
Why don't we refer to all notes by 1-7, and is there a system to ...
10
votes
2answers
758 views
What is the device used to draw 5-line staff (empty) with a pencil/pen?
I remember seeing something like that long ago but can't remember what it was called. It is basically a metal gadget that holds 5 pencils or only pencil led and you can draw by hand your own empty ...
10
votes
4answers
202 views
What does 'on' mean in chord notation?
For example, Em(onD) and Em(onC♯). I found these in a Japanese guitar tab book I bought.
9
votes
2answers
142 views
What does a duplicated note in a chord mean?
While reading the score of Misty (Burke, Garner, arranged by Roed), I encountered the following chord notation (it's on the bass clef in bar 32, and the signature is E-flat major):
What does the ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
What does a small x-like symbol before a note mean?
I've been playing piano by ear for a long time and now I am trying to learn the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata. I am a little confused about the meaning of a little cross placed right before a ...
9
votes
1answer
201 views
Do accidentals on ornaments carry over to the other notes in the measure?
In the first measure from this section of Schubert's Serenade, does the accidental on the ornamental C at the beginning affect the "regular" C that follows?
9
votes
2answers
130 views
Small natural above C in G Major
Here is a picture of the sheet music (Eine Klein Nachtmusik, movement 1). The odd accidental has a red freehand circle around it.
What does this natural sign mean? As you can see, the key is G ...
8
votes
5answers
379 views
The same note on two staves
On rare occasions, I encounter the same note on two staves with overlapping durations. Attached is an example from an arragement of "The Long and Winding Road" by The Beatles (The note in question is ...
8
votes
3answers
162 views
Why are some measures separated by double lines?
I play piano. Sometimes, measures in pieces are separated by a double vertical line instead of a single one. What does this signify?
8
votes
6answers
208 views
Sound spectrum to notes software
I'm looking for software that can graphically assist in translating a sound frequency to notes.
Closest example of what I had in mind is FL Studio's Wave Candy plugin:
Hovering cursor above a ...
8
votes
7answers
104 views
Are there some classical pieces that lend themselves well to guitar?
I would like to practice reading music on something other than notation written for guitar. Are there other pieces written for violin, for instance-or other instruments, that can be transposed easily ...
8
votes
1answer
219 views
How do you play this tablature notation?
How do I play this on my guitar?
A side question, is there a reference site for checking music and tablature notation?
8
votes
2answers
191 views
Is assignment of notes to measures totally arbitrary?
I am beginning to learn piano. To pep up my practising, I downloaded some sheet music for Waltzing Matilda
Then I noticed, at the same place, this:
Obviously it is the same music but needs to be ...
8
votes
2answers
291 views
On the piano, how should you play staccato with the pedal?
In some pieces, there is a pedal designation along with staccato. How should this be played?
8
votes
3answers
343 views
What is the the Nashville Numbers system?
Recently, a couple of my bandmates were talking about a technique they use called Nashville Numbers. It's similar to writing out chords, but instead uses numbers. These numbers are a pattern that ...
7
votes
2answers
287 views
Why does this note sound like it is not played?
I've been learning the second movement of Mozart's Piano Sonata 16 for a while. While I get most of the stuff memorized, some part of it just doesn't sound right comparing to recordings on YouTube ...
7
votes
3answers
124 views
Is there a special way to notate a repeat for the right (treble) hand but not the left (bass) hand?
I'm working with a section of music where the right hand (treble clef) plays the same thing twice, but the left hand (bass clef) differs the second time round.
Usually I would just rewrite out the ...
7
votes
1answer
310 views
“х” on tablature - how do I play it?
I'm learning "Last Christmas" arrangement for the acoustic guitar, and have encountered lots of notes marked as "x" in tablature.
--------------------------------0----------------
...
7
votes
4answers
293 views
What should I do about composing 'soft' accents for piano?
When composing for the piano, I often find myself writing a lot of sudden soft notes. I need an accent mark that suddenly softens notes. From my knowledge (and searching the web), I can not find any ...
7
votes
2answers
169 views
In chord progressions, how can I refer to a chord that's out of the scale?
I'm training a music that is most on the G Major scale.. But then there's a B chord. As B is not on the G Major scale, how can I refer to it when I'm writing the chord progression?
EDIT
My guess is ...
7
votes
2answers
878 views
How does the piano middle pedal work? Is there a standard symbol for it?
What are the mechanics behind the middle piano pedal? I have been using the middle pedal for a variety of music, it is wonderful, but I can't figure out how it works (I mean the mechanical process). ...
7
votes
1answer
294 views
Is there a specific name for Sheet music that uses numbers (二胡 Èrhú Sheet Music)?
I am searching for a software program (preferably opensource but not necessarily) that can create sheet music. However since I am a beginner at my instrument I still use a simplified notation. I play ...
6
votes
2answers
456 views
Need help with a measure within Mozart's 'Rondo alla Turca'
In the 21st measure of Mozart's Rondo alla Turca/Turkish March (3rd movement of K. 331), there's a trill in the treble clef that I can't quite get right. Would you be so kind to expand the measure as ...
6
votes
3answers
292 views
Learning guitar via staff
I am learning guitar from my tutor and he is teaching me to read notes on a staff. However when I search for guitar music on internet it comes like:
A C♯m E Bm F♯m etc.
How do I convert these to a ...
6
votes
3answers
119 views
What do multiple l's and r's beneath a note mean?
I do a tad of drumming, but not enough at all to call myself a drummer (or anything close). I understand what a R or a L means under a note, but i'm not sure what two or three under each note means. I ...
6
votes
1answer
224 views
Numerous questions about advanced guitar tablature notation
8 slide 0...why is 0 in parentheses?
7 slide 9...what does curve under mean?
5 7 5..7 5 0..are they hammers or pull offs..how you distinguish those
how to play this?
what does this long line ...
6
votes
4answers
110 views
What are the various ways of vocalizing rhythmic figures?
I know of the standard western technique where the beats (quarter notes) are numbered and eighths are vocalized as 'and' and sixteenths are vocalized as 'ee' and 'uh' (One-ee-and-uh Two-ee-and-uh).
...
6
votes
3answers
219 views
how do you choose the correct stem length for notes on a beam?
Stems are supposed to be 3.5 stave spaces tall. When the notehead is on the 2nd line outside the staff or beyond, the stem should extend to touch the center line. When the 3rd flag (or beam) is added ...
6
votes
3answers
635 views
How many (major and minor) keys are there? Why?
I am wondering about how many major and minor keys there are and why.
Here are some suggestions:
24 keys
One could argue that there should be one major and one relative minor key for each of the 12 ...
6
votes
2answers
421 views
Lead sheets / fake sheets without score
Several of the groups of people I play music with use song sheets that are similar to lead sheets, but without the stave showing the melody line:
Note that unlike many chord sheets you can find ...
6
votes
2answers
174 views
Physiological basis for note durations?
For some reason (probably read something like this a long time ago), I have it in my head that there was some sort of physiological basis for some note durations.
This may have been something like, a ...
6
votes
1answer
130 views
Sources for sight-reading exercises that focus on subdivisions (emphasis on drums)
As is the case for all drummers, for me, it's a great fun to find weird rhythmic patterns and to practice over basic beats to create some tension in the straight sections of various songs. However, ...
5
votes
1answer
259 views
Is it a typo or how do I play it? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
The same note on two staves
I have put red arrows where I am in trouble. As I understand this, I should hit D but it is already pressed down. Do I misunderstand ...
5
votes
3answers
149 views
How do I write good tablature?
Often, I hear a song that I would like to learn to play, but I can't find good tablature on the Internet. How do I write up my own tab quickly, so I can use it for reference in the future?
5
votes
2answers
144 views
Chopin op. 28 no. 2 - bar 16 symbols
There are two symbols I do not recognise below the stretto in this excerpt:
What are these symbols?
And also, form what I read the stretto here should be interpreted as an accelerando, am I ...
5
votes
2answers
72 views
What is the standard closed hi hat hit notation?
So far I've been able to find standard notation for the hi hat hit and hi hat pedal hit but it its not clear to me what is the closed hi hat notation. As i understand, normal hi hat hit is on the G2 ...
5
votes
2answers
65 views
Arbitrary length full-measure rests in Lilypond
In Lilypond one can make long full-measure rests with:
\compressFullBarRests
R1*12
which outputs:
Is there an engraver I can turn off, or some other way to remove the number from above ...
5
votes
2answers
221 views
Four dots over tremolo minim (half note with slash)
I'm working on National Emblem by E. E. Bagley. In the second strain, there is a minim with the tremolo mark. Above it are four dots. What do they mean?
Here is a picture. The mark in question is ...
5
votes
1answer
257 views
Deciphering the series of numbers shown for songs in a hymn book
Consider almost any song in a church hymn book. Either at the top just above the ledger lines or at the bottom near the credits is a series of numbers usually a set of four to six numbers such as 87 ...
