Notation

The writing of music

Notes are the writing of music: they show pitch and duration at a glance. The staff consists of five lines and four spaces, counted from the bottom up. The higher a note sits on the staff, the higher it sounds. The clef at the beginning fixes which note lies on which line, and the shape of the note head determines the duration. Accidentals alter a note by a semitone, the time signature organises the time.

There are also forms of notation for special needs: tablature shows strings and frets instead of notes, the percussion clef is used for instruments without pitch. Medieval neumes are early forms of recording. In the symbol library Notation symbols 252 symbols in 21 categories are shown, from the treble clef to the neumes.

Notation in the sheet music

Piano

• Für Elise Ludwig van Beethoven, WoO 59 · piano · 3 pages

  Piano notation on two staves: treble clef above, bass clef below. Plus tempo (“Poco moto”), dynamics (pp), pedal marks and repeat brackets.

Orchestra

• Sinfonie Nr. 7, Allegretto Ludwig van Beethoven, op. 92 · score · 54 pages

  A score shows all the parts one above the other. The first page shows flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, timpani and strings, each in its own clef.

Learning to read notation

Reading music is not a talent but a skill that comes by itself through short, regular practice. First learn the notes on the lines of the treble clef, then those in the spaces. Combine reading with playing or singing, and memory learns twice over. While practising say the note names aloud: linking eye, voice and ear speeds up learning to read considerably. The ear can also be coupled to the score, for instance in Melodic Dictation.

Common mistakes

• Overlooking the clef: The same note head means a different note depending on the clef.
• Only counting instead of recognising: Counting off is a good start, but direct recognition is the goal.
• Equating notation with sound: The same sound can be written differently, such as C♯ and D♭.