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.
2,413
questions
4
votes
3
answers
90
views
How would you read this time change with the given note equivalence?
Without the note equivalence I would just read the following as "play twice as fast". In this case though it seems like nothing changes from 3/4 to 3/8, since the beats are made to be equal. ...
5
votes
2
answers
78
views
Understanding Organ notation
I try to arrange an organ work from Maurice Durufle (his Requiem, mid 20th century), but I struggle to understand some of the specific organ notations:
What do "R", "G", "G.R.&...
- 225
4
votes
1
answer
116
views
What does an isolated dash mean in figured bass?
(Note that these do not seem to be the same as the isolated lines discussed in What does an isolated horizontal dash mean in figured bass notation)
I am trying to work with a figured bass score that ...
- 193
1
vote
2
answers
75
views
How do I notate a passage in acoustic guitar, in order to make the lowest note ring?
This is measure 5 and measure 6, one with an independent bass note and one without.
How do I notate a passage in acoustic guitar, in order to make the lowest note ring? Is there a difference in sound ...
- 41
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How are notes named in Japan?
We use A - G or tonic sol fa. Do the Japanese label notes differently? How was their music notated before western colonisation?
- 79
0
votes
2
answers
110
views
Piano music brackets
What do these brackets mean under the groups notes?
I found this on MuseScore.
2
votes
2
answers
120
views
Can you help me understand the curve in this piano score?
I am learning piano by myself; working on the following passages of Deşifre Çalışması:
I can't understand the curves (marked in white) on this page:
Can you help me?
- 23
4
votes
1
answer
291
views
Meaning of "le luth" in 19th century French piano score
I'm looking at a piano concerto by Henri-Joseph Taskin, from ca. 1800, score here:
https://imslp.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_in_D_major%2C_Op.2_(Taskin%2C_Henri-Joseph)
And I'm seeing a frequent notation ...
- 1,045
9
votes
1
answer
355
views
Is it okay to mix accidentals when writing enharmonic notes in different parts?
I had someone ask me the above question about "Dialogue" by Eugene Bozza:
The piece ends in octaves, written Ab in the 1st part and G# in the second part. It's definitely a little strange ...
- 211
10
votes
5
answers
2k
views
What are those small notes below other ones?
When I search for "tiny notes" in the Internet, it says to me "appoggiature". But they are placed just before the main note, not immediately below, like in my picture above.
So, ...
- 111
1
vote
1
answer
64
views
Lilypond: What's the right way to represent a song with verses, a chorus, melismata, and ties?
Short question: What's the best way to represent a simple verse-chorus song with some obnoxious syllable-extension lines?
Long explanation:
I'm trying to use Lilypond to engrave an existing song with ...
5
votes
2
answers
750
views
^ symbol in music theory
What does ^ above a number mean in music theory?
This notation seems to me to be a simple/elementary one. However I cannot find any direct answers to my question by looking it up. I assume, based on ...
- 168
0
votes
3
answers
119
views
universal contemporary Chord symbols
Please advise on universally understood contemporary symbols for Minor Sixth chords having the sixth in the bass eg "F minor sixth" written "D F Ab C" as a chord-chart symbol, ...
2
votes
1
answer
57
views
When to use sharps or flats for chromatic alterations of scale degree ^5 and ^6
Here is a piece of music I composed with some chromatic notes which I am having difficulty notating correctly.
In bar 2 I wrote C♮ (lowered scale degree ^6). In bar 3 the same tone is written as B♯. ...
- 542
4
votes
2
answers
226
views
Are there dedicated symbols for interval qualities?
I want to describe harmonic intervals between two notes in text. Given that key and mode are not specified in this context, are there dedicated symbols to signify a major, minor, perfect, diminished ...
- 634
1
vote
2
answers
82
views
Could anyone give some tips/basic rules for completing measures with rests?
I'm currently studying music theory and this is a big gray area for me. Whenever I do practice problems and my answers are marked incorrect, I'm introduced to a lot of new concepts/rules. Some ...
- 168
7
votes
8
answers
700
views
Diminished/Half diminished
In jazz notation, the degree sign means a diminished chord, for instance CEbGb. A diminished 7 chord would be CEbGbBb? A half diminished chord, a degree sign with a slash, would be what?
How do you ...
- 71
4
votes
2
answers
543
views
How to indicate divisi for an entire section?
I have this section below and I want to indicate that unison notes need to be played by the entire section, while the cords should be divisi. Is there a cleaner way to indicate this?
The effect would ...
- 609
9
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What does this “Imo” sign mean?
In the bassoon part of Al fato dàn legge in Mozart’s Così fan tutte — Act I, Scene IV, No. 7, there is this Imo sign:
Can anyone explain its meaning?
- 117
7
votes
1
answer
96
views
unusual segno before barline in baroque score?
In a baroque score (from sonata 1 for 2 flutes by Jean-Daniel Braun, op. 4), I spotted this mysterious segno symbol before a double barline in the middle of a movement. What might it mean?
There is ...
- 173
2
votes
1
answer
86
views
Erhu glissando symbols in LilyPond
I have some problems with LilyPond.
In Chinese music, the symbols below are often used for glissandos:
In normal staff notation, these should look like the picture below:
Is it possible to use ...
- 21
0
votes
2
answers
55
views
Should a note be played by the right or the left hand if the bar extends between the F and G clefs in piano? [duplicate]
Are the 2 (eighth notes) quavers to be played by the left or right or is it up to the player to decide? I though there would have been rests in the G clef for the right hand but I don't see any.
I got ...
- 281
4
votes
2
answers
274
views
Do I need to indicate 'solo' for wind/brass instruments in shared staff?
In an orchestral score, do I need to indicate 'solo' for wind/brass instruments passages in a shared staff?
In the below example, I have a passage that I want to be played by one horn (solo), but the ...
- 609
1
vote
2
answers
147
views
What does this symbol (circled in red) mean?
I've recently got this sheet music from my teacher and there was no explanation on how to play this. I can't seem to find anyone talking about it so I've asked here. If you got some idea, thanks.
...
- 13
13
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Do differently rendered measure numbers convey meaning?
In sheet music I currently read, I notice two distinct ways of rendering the measure number. On some staff line beginnings, it's rendered just as a
bare number (positioned above the clef)
where on ...
- 325
0
votes
0
answers
46
views
Anacrusis and last measure [duplicate]
In a piece of music with a 3/8 time signature, suppose the first measure starts with two sixteenth notes:
Should the last measure then be shortened to just a single quarter note to balance the ...
- 101
3
votes
1
answer
71
views
Notating small adjustments in rhythm
I'm trying to analyse/transcribe some rap music and one thing I've noticed in my listening is that occasionally in a given recording the syllables are shifted slightly off-rhythm for effect or some ...
- 33
4
votes
1
answer
472
views
Three Wind Quartets (Gambaro) -- notes lengths don't add up (3.75 beats in common time)
I'm transcribing the first movement of Gambaro's Three Wind Quartets, and I came across this part in the Clarinet part:
Clarinet in C part
I'm seeing the following:
a dotted eighth note (.75 beats)
...
- 43
3
votes
3
answers
101
views
How to spell leading-tone chords build on #4
In bar 3 I am trying to spell a chord that leads from a ii65 to a V64 chord. The intervals are in the figured bass but I am wondering if this chord should be a root position viidim7 chord with the B♯ ...
- 542
0
votes
0
answers
65
views
What does this "crossed wave" symbol mean? [duplicate]
What is this symbol?
I'm not a piano player, although I know a couple of accents (marcato, tenuto, staccato, staccatissimo), and this is not one of them.
- 131
1
vote
1
answer
72
views
How do I change all fonts to sans-serif in Lilypond?
I'm sure this information is available somewhere, but all I can find is how to change the font for specific parts, not the entire document. Can you help me?
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
46
views
What are these rectangular notes? [duplicate]
I was reading a piano sheet and noticed what seem to be rectangular dotted quarter notes and half notes during some glissandi:
In contrast, there are other glissandi in the sheet that use typical ...
- 111
2
votes
3
answers
273
views
How can I write a repetition with voltas in lyrics in plain text?
I have music with repetitions with voltas and lyrics. Consider this minimal example:
I want to extract the lyrics into plain text and preserve repetitions and voltas. How can I write that?
If there ...
- 171
4
votes
2
answers
612
views
Chopin Op. 9 No. 3 m. 27
From Chopin Nocturne Op. 9 No. 3 in B Major.
Is the phrase in red an unmarked 21-tuple? I can’t figure out how it would be correctly read as 32nd notes, so I assume so—just want to make sure.
0
votes
0
answers
48
views
What is this pointy curved ornament? [duplicate]
I don’t know what the pointy curved thing is; I’ve never seen it before until now.
If anyone could give me any advice that would be great.
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
107
views
Identify this symbol?
In an arrangement of 'We go together' that my marching band plays, there is one point when the trumpets are instructed to make a wah-wah-wah-wah sound on four notes. These notes, along with the text, ...
- 5
5
votes
3
answers
767
views
Piano Sheet Music: Two Voices - Same Note
In this measure, two voices play the same note (one head, 2 stems). Is it just for style or should I play the note louder to imitate 2 notes being played?
- 105
6
votes
2
answers
530
views
How to write this melody with repeat signs?
I have 4 bar melody that starts from a pick-up measure. If I write it the way it is, it's pretty simple, but I'd like to know how can it simplify it with repeats. I cannot think of a way.
- 63
4
votes
3
answers
515
views
Identify Notation, dot (period or point) with semicircle below
I'm not musician, I'm trying to pass a score to MuseScore for my song.
As you can see, I would like to know what is the name for the symbol which is a dot with circular underline (or semicircle below)...
- 469
7
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What is it called when the root is omitted from a chord?
I am learning chord notation and I noticed that the Wikipedia page does not mention any specific notation for a chord where the root is omitted.
Omitting the root note seems to be quite commonplace, ...
- 415
2
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How do I play this note? (Drakengard 3 Kuroi Uta)
Is this C# and D# played together? It sounds weird/out of key, so wasn't sure.
Edit:
- 37
3
votes
0
answers
40
views
What are some effective warmups/excercices for open throat singing before actual singing or performance?
Soo, I am studying open throat singing to learn natural vibrato & control tension on my riff and runs/melisma...
I don't know but when I try to do some open throat singing of which I followed on ...
- 99
4
votes
1
answer
97
views
In this piano notation, which hands play which notes?
Which hands do I use to play the notes/dyads I've labeled #3, #5, and #6?
I recall reading somewhere that lower case "d" indicates "right hand" and lower case "g" ...
- 43
6
votes
4
answers
552
views
I'm having difficulty comprehending the timing information presented in the CSV files of the MusicNet dataset
I'm working on a project using the MusicNet dataset, and I've encountered some difficulty understanding the timing information provided in the dataset. I've managed to decipher the instrument, note, ...
4
votes
4
answers
1k
views
What does this line above this note mean?
Above the note C5 at rehearsal mark (3rd measure below): is the line a part of the number 4 or part of the articulation (the dot on top of the note)?
- 141
0
votes
0
answers
54
views
How to control riff and runs effortlessly? (Singing) (I'm bad at breath control)
Soo, I can do riff and runs nicely, cleanly separated but has bad control and very bad breath control (i think), i have tensions all over my body but not too much. Soo, I feel like I'm not prepared ...
- 99
1
vote
1
answer
76
views
How will and how to use singing vibrato help riff and runs especially with vocal runs note separation?
Soo I'm learning vibrato and I can do riff and runs but sometimes had bad separation.. I'm thinking that maybe somehow learning vibrato will help me but will it actually and how?
I'm learning from ...
- 99
6
votes
1
answer
74
views
Fitting music in a single, long system for scrolling in Lilypond
Suppose I have a piece of music in Lilypond (three staves per system) and I want to lay it out so that all the piece fits into a single, continuous system of arbitrary length, with no breaks.
How ...
- 61
0
votes
0
answers
30
views
How to understanding usage the square bracket between piano staves? [duplicate]
I have found this passage with a square bracket – enclosed the picture.
Is it related to dynamics or chords?
How shall I play it?
Does anyone know how to enter it in Musescore version 3 or 4?
Thanks
- 1
3
votes
2
answers
258
views
What does B7sus mean when learning which notes to sing in a song?
Brand new member here.
I've been learning to sing and trying to learn how to read music to decipher which notes should be sung in a particular song.
With The Carpenters Yesterday Once More it's in E ...
- 33