Questions tagged [notation]
For question about understanding notation and the use of it. If the question is about a specific type of notation like tablature that should also be tagged.
6
votes
3answers
170 views
What is this old time signature (2 with a vertical line through it)?
On the fourth line of page 5 of the score of Fasch's Ouverture-Suite in F major, one reads a time signature that is the number 2 with a vertical line through it:
What does it mean? I know some '...
3
votes
2answers
64 views
How could the medieval chants be classified before any notation was available?
We all have in mind the image of a medieval mode as a scale with a pattern of tones and semitones with a finalis, a specific range, etc.
However, it seems that medieval chants were classified ...
1
vote
3answers
78 views
“arranged by ____” v.s. “notation by _____” - what did the notation person do?
On a score, it indicates that the song was arranged by person X, with notation by person Y. What does a notation person do that an arranger does not?
4
votes
3answers
1k views
Piano chords written on top of the treble clef don’t correspond to notes on the staffs
Why these three chords written on the top of the treble clef (Am7/G, D7/F# and G) don’t correspond to the notes on the partition ?
Is it chords that can be played with the left hand instead of notes ...
10
votes
2answers
3k views
Most complex “block” of sheet music notation
Wondering how complex a single piece of sheet music can get, and what it looks like. For example, on the guitar, theoretically you could define the following:
a chord
bend from another chord
bend to ...
0
votes
3answers
78 views
How to draw in a staff a chord containing C and C#
How should one draw in a staff a chord that contains both a note and the same note with an alteration?
For example: How would you draw in a staff a chord that contains both C2 and C#2?
Addition: Tim'...
1
vote
2answers
65 views
What is the function of the two segnos in this score?
What is the function of the two segnos in this score?:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1EjN20nnXGzrgLUFGaxVaDpIBbuH1O34g
In the measure 7 there is a segno, and in the measure 70 there is a second ...
3
votes
3answers
140 views
What is this small line between 2 notes? [duplicate]
Can someone please let me know what the small vertical line between the 2Es marked 5 and 3 in the treble clef is?
What is the purpose of it? This is in one of my piano music sheets.
3
votes
2answers
39 views
Lilypond – ties across staves
Is there a way in Lilypond to tie notes across two staves?
I have this fragment of an organ piece:
\version "2.18.2"
\language "deutsch"
global = {
\key c \major
\numericTimeSignature
\time 3/...
8
votes
3answers
734 views
What is the name of the section markers denoted by a number in a box above the score?
(I'm not in the music world but need to know the answer for esoteric reasons.) The image above contains excerpts from one of Stravinsky's pieces. I assume in score writing is it commonplace to notate ...
1
vote
2answers
49 views
Lilypond v2.19 - How do I overlap noteheads?
I would like to have the notes overlap each other, so that only the stems are turned upward.
Here is the lilybin link http://lilybin.com/fr648f/1
0
votes
3answers
80 views
Left and right hand playing same note on piano, or can I ignore it? [duplicate]
I’m rather new to piano, and I happened to stumble upon this whilst searching up the music score for “Dance for me wallis” by Abel Korzeniowski.
It appears to be a note, with two tails? Its the top ...
9
votes
2answers
92 views
Why does this tonal scale from 1737 have both F and E♯?
I've recently encountered Jean Féry-Rebel's "Les Élémens". (Check out that wild opening; it's hard to believe it was written in 1737!)
In the fifth measure of the third staff, why does this ...
4
votes
2answers
248 views
How do I have MuseScore continue notes in bass clef thats are input in treble clef?
I am trying to input this:
But in MuseScore, I get this:
The note will not become a continuation of the already played notes in the treble clef.
Why not?
edit
This question is already answered, ...
1
vote
3answers
58 views
What is the proper piano fingering for playing scales in thirds?
I've been learning scales and I love to play them in this fashion.
I can't seem to find a description anywhere of "proper" fingerings where there isn't a bunch of overlap. Proper is contained in ...
14
votes
2answers
984 views
What does “m.Iz.” or “m.Tz.” mean in a score?
What does "m.Iz." or "m.Tz." (or "m.I%." or "m.T%.": I don't know if it is a "%" or a "z") mean in this score? The piece is the waltz "Diana Triste" of the Colombian composer Luis A. Calvo (1882-1945)....
2
votes
1answer
97 views
Does anyone know what this musical symbol means? [duplicate]
Here is an extract from the very first measures of Le Marteau sans maître from Pierre Boulez. My problem is, I can’t figure out what these strange vertical lines mean. (And I’m not talking about the ...
0
votes
2answers
49 views
Sharp and natural in the same bar when key already has a sharp
These pieces are from Victor's piano solo by Danny Elfman (from Corpse Bride by Tim Burton):
Fragment 1
Fragment 2 (lower stuff is in bass clef)
Here I want to know what keys on piano keyboard are ...
17
votes
1answer
2k views
What do the smaller notes in the Treble Clef indicate?
This is piano sheet music for "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie. I've been trying to search for what these notes mean. Do I play them with the left hand? Not play them? Are they ...
1
vote
2answers
32 views
Harp Multiple Glissando
I don't know if it is the correct term, but how to write in the score a harp glissando where the hands pass many times from the start note to the endnote?
Here's an audio example: https://drive....
10
votes
5answers
906 views
Is there a good way to denote nested repeats?
I'm arranging a song and I have a jam section in it that could be repeated an arbitrary amount of times. The problem is that the jam section itself contains repeats, so I have "nested repeats".
What ...
3
votes
3answers
90 views
Is there a definitive notation for multiple repeats?
Is there a definitive notation for repeating a section more than twice? Say you want a section to be played four times. I have mostly seen this:
x4
𝄆 .... 𝄇
meaning "play four times", but I ...
4
votes
3answers
435 views
How to easily transpose sheet music?
I`m trying to get better at reading and writing standard notation.
I was wondering how to transpose a piece from one key to another on sheet music , so I wrote a 2 bar phrase and tried to do it myself....
5
votes
1answer
100 views
Do note lengths matter when they have l.v. ties?
This is pretty esoteric, but I have to ask: Consider the following excerpt from a score (“Titanic Suite” by James Horner, published by Hal Leonard), which includes two percussion staves, one with a ...
4
votes
2answers
69 views
How to notate a (harp) glissando extending beyond the first beat of the next bar
I want to write a harp glissando that starts at the end of one bar (Bar 1) and ends in the next bar (Bar 2), only rather than end on the first beat of Bar 2, I want it to extend an 8th further, as ...
15
votes
7answers
5k views
Why aren't chord names written in classical sheet music?
When I see classical sheet music I don't see the chords named, were chords not used back then? And if they were, do the notes that are under a bass clef generally outline the shapes of chords?
I only ...
5
votes
1answer
55 views
Where do I put this expression marking?
So in this passage (for piano) I have a pianissimo part in the right hand that follows the left hand. I want the pianist to treat the notes in the right hand 'like distant resonance' (or something ...
4
votes
0answers
55 views
Notating for the pianist to lift the pedal slowly?
So in various sections of a piece I want the pianist to lift the pedal slower than usual, achieving an interesting effects as the harmonics fade. In some areas the pedal lift might be slower or faster,...
3
votes
2answers
109 views
How to stop playback after a certain measure in Musescore?
Often when I arrange, I include a jam part where I just use the chord notes. I prefer to have this these sections after everything. See picture:
The problem is when I listen to it on my computer. I ...
4
votes
2answers
59 views
Plectrum Guitar music sheet
Can someone tell me the meaning of this bar of music. It says harmoinic pick on 17th fret but the notation is on E. Should'nt that on a higher octave A? As 17th fret would be A in standard tuning.
2
votes
2answers
42 views
Names of textual chord notation systems
I use three types of textual chord notation. For example in the key of C:
Nashville number system: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
C Dm Em F G Am Bdim
I ii iii IV V vi viiØ or I IIm IIIm IV V VIm VIIØ
What do you ...
10
votes
2answers
931 views
Meaning of dots below note heads
I’m learning music theory and I found a music sheet that I attach one part in a picture. If you see in the Treble Cleff, there are 8 eighth dotted notes and is a 4/4 signature. Like is a 4/4 is not ...
1
vote
2answers
107 views
What does this number and line mean under these violin notes?
What do these numbers and the short line under the notes mean?
3
votes
1answer
43 views
How can you musically notate a certain type of vocal performance?
I've been listening to some Roxy Music recently, and was struck by the style of singing where much of it is not actually sung - I mean there is a pitched component, but it doesn't really belong to the ...
6
votes
5answers
572 views
Are there situations where a time signature is unknown?
My understanding is that a time signature like 4/4 time is known because certain beats are emphasized, for example: ONE, two, three, four. But let's say someone created a song with tempo alone (ie ...
2
votes
4answers
156 views
Describe a chord shape?
Is there a standard or compact way to describe a chord shape, using text?
For example, the D/C chord is:
6th string: muted
5th string: 3rd finger on 3rd fret (C)
4th string: open (D)
3rd ...
4
votes
2answers
456 views
How to interpret the '3' notation underneath the first two quavers?
I'm trying to adapt a guitar piece to the piano. The piece, shown here, is in 3/4.
I've never seen this bit of notation before and I initially thought it was the indicator telling you to play 3 notes ...
3
votes
1answer
46 views
How to interpret trills in renaissance music?
So I suddenly want to try some 16th century music...
I downloaded this sheet music https://imslp.org/wiki/Parthenia_(Various), which includes keyboards works by Orlando, William Byrd, and John Bull. ...
2
votes
2answers
115 views
How do I write this rhythm correctly?
I'm not that good in music theory. There is this rhythm I can't find the right way to notate. Logic Pro shows it like this: (if you need mp3. let me know).
And this is the rhythm I play. Right hand ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
Why is sheet music for guitar different from piano [duplicate]
Why is middle C on guitar music played an octave lower in pitch on guitar than on piano? I can play guitar while reading from piano music on the grand staff with middle C at concert, and it's not any ...
6
votes
2answers
72 views
GuitarPro: How to mass remove a certain percussion instrument using MusicXML
I've been modifying some drum tabs on Guitar Pro. The problem is, for a specific section I want to remove all the cabasa notes. (Instrument 69)
Now of course, I can do it one note at a time. But I'll ...
2
votes
1answer
83 views
Time signature problems in Debussy's “Clair de lune”
Clair de Lune by Debussy is in 9/8, but this bar doesn't look like 9/8 to me at all. Can anyone help?
1
vote
1answer
33 views
When to use sub-brackets for similar instruments within a section?
In some scores, especially printed sheet music, “like” instruments in larger sections will be grouped together with sub-brackets, such as piccolos with flutes, oboes with English horns, clarinets and ...
3
votes
1answer
51 views
How to notate a diminished run in G♯ minor?
I'm trying to transcribe Brothers by Yngwie Malmsteen and have a question regarding the diminished run he does 29 seconds in to the song.
The song is in G♯ minor and he's playing the notes A♯, C♯, E ...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
How to denote a note that should only be played during first repeat without voltas?
Look at this:
I want to skip the note indicated with a red arrow on second repeat. I know about this solution:
But I think it looks way to messy, considering it is only just one single note.
The ...
3
votes
2answers
89 views
How to describe occasional non-swing eighth notes using swing notation?
Suppose I have a melody using triplets, which has a swing feel:
To simplify the notation, I want to use eighth notes, and mark "Swing feel" somewhere on the sheet:
This is all good, but what if I ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
Redundant naturals [duplicate]
Now and then, I'll see notation with a redundant natural, such as on the B in bar 13 and F in bar 15 in this arrangement of O Sacred Head Now Wounded:
I say they're redundant because the rule is, of ...
4
votes
1answer
87 views
LilyJazz major 7 triangle symbol
I'm getting started using lilyjazz to write Jazz-styled music. I'd like to get the Realbook-like notation that I'm used to featuring a triangle to denote a major seven.
the jazzchords.ily stylesheet ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Is there a typo in this exercise, or am I not counting correctly?
I have this set of right hand open string exercises for classical guitar. Many are in 4/4 but some are in 6/8 (see pic below). The notes are grouped in 6 but there is no tuple notation. Reading as ...
0
votes
2answers
111 views
Weird 16th notes (I think) in score, not sure how to count them / not sure of their value
I found this weird grouping of notes in a song I'm trying to learn and I want to understand why they are played the way they are. I can listen to the song and replicate it but I don't understand why ...
