Questions tagged [notation]
For questions about visual representation of music and its uses. If the question is about a specific type of notation like tablature, that should also be tagged. Questions about how to input specific notation are best served with the engraving tag.
1,958
questions
2
votes
1answer
50 views
How to write proper repeat signs for ABABBCB form?
I'm trying to write down the melody of a song. It's in ABABBCB form, with a Coda. It also has a pickup measure. This is what I came up with. Is this correct? In the 2nd volta (ending), should it ...
2
votes
1answer
40 views
Is the volta ONLY used to mark unique end of a section or can it mark unique verse content within a section?
I see a three verse, two chord song,
verse 1 and 2 are
a b c
a b c
d d e
Verse three is
a b c
a b c
a f g
d d e
Without writing everything serially, within a repeated section with lyrics listed as
...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
what does this symbol from KV265 mean?
At 5:41, in the 17th bar of the 6th variation, there is a star above the C in the righthand.
what does it mean?
4
votes
3answers
138 views
Shell and inversion notation for lead sheets
I am a beginner piano player here. I have been studying Barry Harris’s maj 6/ diminished chord approach. It seems that often you can have a shell in you left hand and different chord in the right ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
How do I add a rest in smart music compose?
I've just started learning smart music's compose feature whereby I can create my own musical score. I'm starting with Mary Had a Little Lamb (the hello world program equivalent for any music notation ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
What do these three lines through the measure mean?
The below image is from the Clarinet II part of Samuel Barber's Violin concerto. I don't have the faintest clue as to what these three lines could mean in this context. The notation is preceded by a ...
17
votes
1answer
1k views
What does the 'L' line in Elgar's "The Spirit of the Lord" mean?
In the introduction to the Elgar's "The Spirit of the Lord", the prologue to The Apostles Op. 49, the score has lines which looks like octave signs, but which have the letter 'L' instead of ...
3
votes
1answer
227 views
What is the strumming pattern of this guitar tab from "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence? [closed]
I'm trying to learn how to play "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence on guitar, and I'm following Christian Torres's cover on YouTube:
Only problem is, I suck ...
7
votes
3answers
695 views
Why are some notes double stemmed in keyboard style harmony while others are not?
When doubling certain notes in the right hand chord shapes sometimes there are double stems and sometimes there arent. Can someone please explain the rules? Here you can see the upbeat shows a double ...
5
votes
1answer
77 views
Meaning of drum TAB notation: horizontal line with upward stroke
I came across the following notation which I couldn't find in any guides to drum TAB notation:
It resembles a small x note lying directly on the 2nd stave line from the top (i.e., a D4 in the treble ...
10
votes
2answers
492 views
Which clef is used for the tenors here? [duplicate]
In modern typesetting, tenors usually have an F clef (or an octaving C clef, with the 8 indicated or omitted).
Consider following clef from Bellini's Norma (p. 125):
It looks like an (octaving) G ...
6
votes
1answer
115 views
What are those brackets for?
We sang this song at Church and I am just wondering what these two symbols do.
3
votes
2answers
119 views
Is sforzando on two beats sensible? Are there alternatives?
For a piano piece, I want a sforzando (which I interpret as a strong accent on every note in that beat) to be applied to two beats. Until now I have notated it like this, with sffz between the notes:
...
5
votes
3answers
186 views
Grace notes with slash
What exactly does the slash mean as opposed to the other?
And if you have a group of grace notes together, do you just slash the first one?
6
votes
2answers
585 views
Trill notation with a wavy line
There are 2 trill notations: 'tr' and 'tr' followed by a wavy line.
What exactly is the difference and when is one used over the other?
4
votes
5answers
426 views
Slurs for flute
In writing for the flute when the composer does not play the instrument himself, how does he know where to put the slurs?
To my understanding slur markings for woodwind indicate to play with a certain ...
25
votes
9answers
6k views
Why don’t piano teachers teach the chord method of playing to young children and adults?
I have been playing piano since I was 10 and now I am 43. I have never really been good at sight reading sheet music. I have recently been researching alternative methods of learning songs fast as ...
5
votes
2answers
74 views
Notation for violin harmonics in "La Création du Monde"
At the end of Darius Milhaud's La Création du Monde, the violins have some harmonics notated that I can't quite figure out. I'm not a string player, and I'm wondering if the notation given here would ...
5
votes
2answers
204 views
What do the ending numbers (e.g., Db 1; Db/F 1/3) written below the chords mean?
What do the ending numbers written below the chord in this video really mean?
Video link:
Db 1,
Db/F 1/3,
Gb 4,
Ab 5,
Db 1,
Db/F 1/3,
Gb 4,
Ab 5,
Fm7 3m,
Bbm7 6m,
Gb ...
12
votes
4answers
661 views
What do those double dots mean (in Trois mouvements de Petrouchka, Stravinsky)
What do those double dots mean ?
Do they apply to the whole chord ? Or just the right hand chord or just the top D ? Does it have a musical meaning or interpretative meaning or both ? How is it ...
2
votes
3answers
132 views
How can you tell the difference between 3/4 time and 6/8 time? Or 3/2 time and 6/4 time?
When given any sheet of music without the time signature and you are given the choice of 3/4 and 6/8, how would you know which one would be the appropriate choice?
3
votes
3answers
214 views
Sibelius Notation for Slightly Changed Repeat Passage
I want to recreate a repeated section of music in Sibelius which I found in an online score. I attach a screenshot of the relevant bar from the repeated passage.
The passage is repeated three times, ...
4
votes
1answer
57 views
Schoenberg notation [duplicate]
In Theory of Harmony section 4 on the major mode and diatonic chords by Schoenberg, he writes,
A musical sound is a composite, made up of a series of tones sounding together, the overtones; hence, it ...
8
votes
5answers
2k views
Is there any other notation, like tab notation, for piano?
I am a beginner in music, and I like both piano and electric bass guitar. I can spend 2,3 hours per week on music (Online Learning and playing).
I am not a musician, but I am playing for joy. I’ve ...
0
votes
3answers
70 views
What is the name of the chord with the notes G#, B, D#, and E?
I’m working on writing a chord sheet for Switchfoot’s song “Living Is Simple.” One of the chords during the second post-chorus has the notes G#, B, D#, and E. On the guitar, it’s fingered x-6-6-4-0-0 (...
5
votes
1answer
141 views
Correct Numbering for Scale Degrees
For ever, I've only called scale degrees by their (Arabic) numbers. As opposed to chords, where I use Roman Numerals. Now, I've found out they really ought to have carets, or circumflexes over them. ...
3
votes
4answers
193 views
Properly listing notes on a scale by following the 3 guidelines: Alphabetical, No Repeats/Omissions, Don't Mix Sharps or Flats [duplicate]
My question specifically addresses the G Harmonic Minor scale, which I always see listed as: G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F#, (G). The scale is listed alphabetically but it contains a mixture of 2 flats and 1 ...
9
votes
2answers
166 views
Notating a note sustained over clef change
I found this very interesting notation in Wiklund's first piano concerto, final bars of movement 1 (the transcription for two pianos):
See the final left-hand bars: the low E is sustained over a clef ...
5
votes
1answer
95 views
Help understanding basso continuo in Vivaldi's 'La Folia'
This piece by Vivaldi is shown in the score to be notated for 3 voices. However in performances, there are 4 instruments played: 2 violins, cello and keyboard. The keyboard, along with playing the ...
5
votes
1answer
279 views
How to notate lack of pedal for a measure?
I'm writing a piano piece, for most of which I would like to use a blanket con pedale instead of marking pedals for each measure. However, at exactly one point, there are two nonconsecutive measures ...
14
votes
2answers
509 views
What is this notation used for the singer? [duplicate]
Consider this excerpt from Te Deum Laudamus by C.V. Stanford:
What is the notation used on top of the voice?
I suppose the letters indicate the notes (d(o)-r(e)-m(i)-s(ol) for re-mi-fa#-la in D major)...
1
vote
3answers
98 views
Drum and dotted notes
I am trying to practice Smell like a teen spirit on drums and there is something I don’t understand with dotted notes.
Here is the sheet:
I don’t understand the use of dotted notes in this sheet. If ...
4
votes
1answer
47 views
1 and 2 marks on Ravel's La Valse two-piano version
I found [1] and [2] marks on Ravel, "La Valse" two piano version (by Garban), like
Only [1] or [2] is written during the whole piece, not [3] or [4], etc. so they are not rehearsal marks.
...
12
votes
3answers
2k views
Bass score, what does "Maybe quarter notes" mean?
I was playing "Elf: The Musical" this week and the keyboard player (playing the bass part) asked me what "Maybe quarter notes" meant.
I figured it gave the option to either play ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
What does this instrumentation mean?
I was checking the requirements for a score and saw this.
1.1.1.1-1.0.0.0-strings (3.3.2.2.1) - common woodwind doublings allowed
I still don't know how to read the shorthand for orchestra ...
2
votes
1answer
97 views
What's the correct way of referring to movements with multiple tempo indications?
I'm checking out the tracklistings of a Scarlatti box set and seeing some differences between what's on the back covers and what's on the publisher's website. I'm interested to know which punctuations ...
9
votes
1answer
604 views
What does F.O. mean, and is it related to a repeat?
I have some sheet music (from a Japanese book, if that matters in any way) and it says "F.O." at the end of some pieces.
I could find some other terms related to repeats (D.S. being Dal ...
1
vote
1answer
88 views
Rests with triplets across the Grand Staff
Let's say this is the 4th of 4 quaver triplets in a 4/4 measure:
Unlike the other quaver triplets in the measure, this one crosses the staves, with one note in the bass clef and two in the treble ...
2
votes
2answers
115 views
Question about held notes in piano musical notation [duplicate]
My knowledge of musical notation is extremely limited, so I'm sorry if this is a dumb question...
Could anyone tell me how the the below bar would look if the 3 triplet notes marked in red in the bass ...
3
votes
1answer
69 views
How would you write an inversion of a suspended chord with functional chord symbols? [duplicate]
Ex.
Would the second chord be written as I7 - 6 or I62 - 1?
1
vote
1answer
69 views
Do accidentals take precedence over the key signature? I've included an example of a measure for a clarinet in Bb [duplicate]
A measure written for Bb clarinet.
7
votes
2answers
1k views
What time signature should I use with partial triplets?
Say I have six groupings of eighth note triplets, 18 total notes. I want to play 16 eighth note triplets, leave off the last two notes ("partial triplet"), and repeat the section.
To my ear, ...
3
votes
3answers
205 views
Why is the usual clef for guitar G clef?
Analyzing by two parameters, polyphony and range, music written for guitar should use two clefs, G and F. Usually, solo guitar has a polyphonic expression. Writing two melodies in a single stave could ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views
Lilypond: How to write - when the left hand should play more than the number of notes per bar as per the time signature
This is what I am aiming for:
How can I tell LilyPond that the c1 in the first three measures is to be played by the thumb of the left hand in parallel with the other three notes also played by the ...
0
votes
0answers
49 views
Dash symbol above or below a note [duplicate]
The dash symbol or the horizontal bar at the F G A in the first measure and at A B C in the third measure, what is it called? Looking at the video, I could not tell what was unusual. (Measure 25 and ...
4
votes
1answer
150 views
Instrumental intro on "Piano and melody with lyrics" score in LilyPond
I am creating a LilyPond piano/vocal score starting with the Template A.3.2 Piano and melody with lyrics. In my piece, there will be several bars of instrumental introduction before the vocal line ...
5
votes
2answers
564 views
Lilypond: Putting left hand notes on treble clef - one more question
Similar to my earlier question -
How to put Left hand notes on the treble clef
But this still has me stumped -
This is what I am trying to achieve:
This is what I am getting:
My right hand is:
\...
10
votes
3answers
566 views
Multiple staccato dots on minim with tremolo repeat in Lilypond
I'm writing a piano reduction of Gustav Mahler's 4th Symphony (to help study the score and practice music notation, but mainly just for kicks 'n' grins) using GNU LilyPond. (Yes, I know, I'm totally ...
7
votes
1answer
211 views
How to put Left hand notes on the treble clef
I want to put a note to be played by the left hand on the treble clef - using LilyPond.
How can this be done?
What I want to achieve is like this:
This is how my code looks right now:
Right Hand:
\...
6
votes
1answer
183 views
Notating the 3rd and 5th of an augmented chord
I am transposing a piano solo which is in A major. At a certain point (3rd beat of bar 7) the piano plays a dyad which consists of what I would normally call Eb and G natural (a major third apart). ...
