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.
1,863
questions
6
votes
2answers
94 views
What does a line between staves indicate for piano? [duplicate]
What is the score indicating here? This is Norton's Misty Day - it's a pretty straightforward piano score, then on the measure before this, the treble clef switches to bass clef and this measure is ...
8
votes
1answer
417 views
How to indicate flutter technique in a score?
And so the question:
I would like to indicate a certain bar in a trombone score using the flutter technique. How can I label and remove it correctly?
I mean labels like for strings pizz and arco
By ...
4
votes
1answer
97 views
What does a "2" on top of a figured bass exercise mean?
Here is a pic from my textbook, Adwell/Schachter's Tonal Harmony. It tells me what the soprano should be in the figured bass but there is a 2 next to both notes. What does that mean?
6
votes
4answers
798 views
How would I notate this custom repeat scenario with sheet music?
I am composing a song, 8 measures in verse and 8 in chorus. I also have a 8 measure instrumental I would like to include after the second verse and before the second chorus. For the life of me I can'...
1
vote
1answer
58 views
Grace note notation
I'm having a heck of a time wrapping my head around appoggiatura and acciaccatura and other grace note notations to achieve the performance I'm specifically looking for.
The image above represents ...
2
votes
0answers
43 views
Notes of identical pitch on the same beat [duplicate]
In this measure of music from a piano accompaniment for Les Mis, This measure confuses me: On the third beat, There is an F played with two rhythms, a dotted eighth note as well as a sixteenth note, I ...
2
votes
0answers
64 views
Is there any book on the numbered notation system? [closed]
I am interested in the numbered notation system (a.k.a. jiǎnpǔ), and I would like to know if there was any book in order to learn about the details of it (fingering, for example). I already read the ...
8
votes
2answers
106 views
What is a natural sharp? [duplicate]
I'm looking the allstate music (as my class is required to pass it off) the piece is in concert c minor. I play flute and on my f(which is already sharp) there is a natural sign and then another sharp ...
7
votes
4answers
1k views
Can a double bar line begin a repeated section?
Please see the following:
I assume that the repeat sign should refer back to the double bar line?
8
votes
6answers
889 views
Should I use 16th notes or triplets in swing rhythm?
I understand that in swing time, a pair of quavers should be played with a ratio of roughly 2-1 (up to 3-1), making it sound like a crotchet followed by a quaver.
But if I want to split the first note ...
5
votes
1answer
75 views
Is the number of voices determined relative to the bar or to the phrase?
The direction of a note's stem is based on the number of voices in its context. If there is one voice, notes written above the middle staff line (B in G-Clef) are down-stem, whereas notes written ...
2
votes
0answers
37 views
LilyPond - How do I create a ChordName context that can stack or show multiple ChordNames simultaneously?
Suppose I have one melody line that is repeated (e.g., singing multiple verses), but the chords should be different the second and third times through. I want these to be defined in their own ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
What is this violin ornament? [duplicate]
The picture below is Sibelius’s Tapiola (Bar 460).
It looks to me like a trill / mordent on its side to fit into the condensed score. But is it?
6
votes
2answers
464 views
arpeggiated chord and half bracket symbol - what does it mean? (piano)
I have a piano piece with arpeggiated chords and at first glance, I thought I would have to leave out the bottom note on one of them because my hands aren't long enough. Then I looked closer at the ...
5
votes
1answer
407 views
When adding barlines in a music theory exam are all the bars supposed to be complete?
Here are some samples I am working on. Either I have made a mistake or the final bar is incomplete. Is it normal in an exam to have incomplete bars at the end?
5
votes
1answer
75 views
Is there a standardized way to write sheet music for musical spoons?
The spoons are a percussion instrument common in folk music around the world. Often, the spoons can create lines similar to a snare drum cadence, but with the addition of different body strikes and ...
3
votes
1answer
277 views
Beethoven Sonata Op. 49 No. 2 Bar 12 trill
I just started learning this piece on my own. I played the trill (red circle) as A G F# G (So with the context it's G AGF#G A. Is it correct? When I listen to the videos played by professionals on ...
12
votes
1answer
498 views
Rare abbreviation in Haydn String Quartet
I am engaving a complete edition of the Haydn String Quartets from the 1803 Pleyel "Bonaparte" edition, to provide players with access to this particular edition, which does not suffer much ...
13
votes
4answers
461 views
Is there a common labeling system for tritone substitutions?
Imagine the following progression:
C F D♭7 C
We typically just explain that third chord as a tritone substitution—and we stop there!—but this must be maddening for beginners, because we aren't ...
6
votes
2answers
261 views
Is 12/16 time signature a4 beats of dotted quavers or 2 beats of dotted crotchets?
Please see this question I am asked in one of my textbooks. I am asked to add a time signature. My answer is 12/16 but the problem is that I can't divide the bar into 4 dotted quavers because of the ...
10
votes
2answers
718 views
How to write down slap bass on score?
How could I write down slap bass (slap and pop) on sheet music?
4
votes
2answers
626 views
Are slurs on a score for piano as well?
With piano I dont really see/hear the point yet of having slurs because of its sound. I find it difficult to play more legato than is normal. Please can someone enlighten me. Are slurs for piano ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Should I use uppercase or lowercase roman numerals in Jazz harmonic analysis?
I know that there is not a fully defined specification for the language used in jazz harmonic analysis, as it has grown slowly and organically and has many variations. I have seen some textbooks use ...
3
votes
1answer
350 views
Name of a "triplet" inside an eighth beat
I've recently been creating my own rendition of Amazing Grace, and while I was working to add a bit of stylistic elements to it, I imagined a melody in my head which would require 3 beats in the space ...
3
votes
2answers
193 views
How should guitar strumming patterns be represented in music notation?
I am new to sheet music and I am basically a programmer. I am trying to blend technology with music and display the tabs on the screen like so for my son's YouTube channel. Now I want to integrate ...
2
votes
1answer
54 views
Is there a way of actually opening hairpins in LilyPond?
I need this for an Ossia staff that only appears for a single bar, like this:
The real hairpin starts before that bar (like the 2nd one), but spanning the hairpin where the lower one starts doesn't ...
-2
votes
1answer
72 views
In the absence of articulation marks should a piece be played legato? [duplicate]
If the answer is yes then why use legato articulation? surely the absence of staccato articulation implies legato?
6
votes
2answers
489 views
How can I omit breaks and page breaks in LilyPond?
I'm creating score and parts from a single file with various \book blocks, and my instrument parts have some \break and \pageBreak commands, but I want my score to omit those breaks. I thought that ...
4
votes
1answer
92 views
Can I edit the properties of System Spacers in LilyPond and double it on the other side of the page?
I can't find any information about system spacers more than:
\paper {
system-separator-markup = \slashSeparator
}
I find the defaults too small, and I would like to put a second separator aligned ...
9
votes
2answers
561 views
How are backup vocals notated in sheet music (score order)?
Many pop songs have a lead singer singing over instrumentals. However, on certain phrases, the singer may be joined by a backup singer who sings the same words and rhythm but harmonizing above. How ...
8
votes
3answers
301 views
Is there a better way of working on a score in real-time collaboration?
I've struggled with this topic for a long time since I edit scores with some friends at the same time, and came with some workarounds, but none of them seems that efficient for the workflow.
I mainly ...
6
votes
4answers
739 views
Grouping three quarter notes in 6/8 time signature
I'm writing a piece of music in 6/8 time signature. Is it correct to have a bar with 3 quarter notes in this time signature?
4
votes
3answers
607 views
Can you put one demisemiquaver rest inside a group of 4 demisemiquavers?
I did a picture with 2 examples so you guys can see what I mean. Please can you tell me if blue or red is better?
6
votes
3answers
413 views
Is the length of a G.P. that has no fermata discretionary?
In mm. 342 and 382 of the last movement of his Piano Quartet n. 3, Op.26, Brahms writes G.P. over one measure's rest (with no fermata). Is the intention that this General Pause should last exactly one ...
1
vote
0answers
42 views
What is the notation for repeating 3 times in keyboard sheet music? [duplicate]
In sheet music how do you notate repetition of a measure 3 times? Do you put 3 above the repeat sign? For example:
6
votes
3answers
200 views
How to write rests in triplet semiquaver groups
In the second bar I have to add the correct rest and it is a triplet semiquaver group Do you have to use separate semiquaver rests like I have done or could I have used one quaver rest instead?
2
votes
0answers
56 views
What is Just Intonation in detailed terms, and how can I notate it? [duplicate]
I've recently caught a great interest in the use of microtonal music through Just Intonation because of an artist I'm sure you've heard of recently, Jacob Collier. There a point in one of his songs ...
4
votes
3answers
119 views
What is the generalized terminology for continuous changes?
In some musical dimensions, termini and notation for continuous changes are common:
Melodic (pitch):
glissando, portamento, doit, fall
Dynamic (volume):
crescendo, diminuendo (alias decrescendo)
...
8
votes
4answers
421 views
Are these chords tied (not played again) or is only the top note tied?
In the recording it sounds like the chords are simply tied... I've been playing piano for 20 years and this seemingly simple question is escaping me. Any help would be appreciated!
The piece is "...
0
votes
1answer
80 views
What word the combines both tabs and sheet music?
Wondering what word combines both Tabs and sheet music? I usually say Music Score. Is it correct?
5
votes
1answer
1k views
9
votes
2answers
536 views
How to notate a double stop for snare drum music
I'm just writing some stuff out by hand, and wondered how to indicate a single note where both hands play in unison, called a double stop. Or perhaps how to indicate a few bars will use double stops.
...
4
votes
1answer
105 views
How to notate specific-note harp glissando?
I am writing a piece in which I want the harp to play a glissando containing only specific notes, like so:
Is this the best way to notate this type of thing, or is there a better way?
4
votes
2answers
310 views
Notes and Beat "slashes" in the same measure
I have a song I'm working on where the chorus ends with a half note in the first half of a measure. I would like to do an instrumental/solo, I want to allow freedom to the musician so have just filled ...
4
votes
2answers
865 views
Music notation: Left side dot
What's the meaning of the highlighted left side dot?
I found it in the tango Almagro by Vicente San Lorenzo (lyrics by A. Timarni). It looks too clean to be noise in the score capture.
2
votes
1answer
64 views
In Sibelius ManuScript language example, why will the Run method not run?
I am learning to write Sibelius plug-ins by working my way through the ManuScript Language Reference (see File > Plug-ins > ManuScript Language Reference). Unlike other scripting languages I use ...
6
votes
1answer
657 views
Can you explain the transposing convention in this Jean Sibelius's score?
I am looking at a 1954 edition of Jean Sibelius's orchestral score for Tapiola.
It has the Concert Pitch instruments (Flutes, Violins etc) in two sharps.
He then has various other key signatures which ...
4
votes
1answer
247 views
What is the proper shorthand notation for a multi-measure chord tremolo?
This question came up from Proper chord tremolo notation and execution:
What is a proper way to notate a chord tremolo with bars (as opposed to writing it out explicitly), when the tremolo lasts more ...
4
votes
1answer
98 views
Proper chord tremolo notation and execution
I'm not sure if this measure from Joe Hisaishi's "Hana-Bi" is correctly notated for a chord tremolo. What is the correct notation, and how should it be played?
10
votes
5answers
987 views
Can you use a dotted semibreve rest in 3/2 time?
In an exercise I am doing in 3/2, I am asked to mark the rests used as correct or incorrect. I got an answer wrong and am not sure why. Here is a photo of the answer book and you can see right at the ...