Music Notations by Line Pattern

The images below illustrate various alternative music notation systems. Each one shows a chromatic scale from C to C. Click on an image to learn more about a particular system. They are sorted into two main groups: those in which the staff lines are all a whole-step apart, or some multiple of a whole step (major third, tritone, or octave); and those displaying a 7-5 pattern, in which some lines are a half step or minor third apart. Within the first group, the systems are further organized by number of lines per octave. You can also view them by 7-5 and 6-6 Patterns and by Date. For a general introduction see the Music Notations Guided Tour.

5 lines per octave: whole step apart (2 semitones apart)
4 lines per octave: whole step apart (2 semitones apart)
3 lines per octave: whole step apart (2 semitones apart)
6 lines per octave: whole step apart (2 semitones apart)
4 lines per octave: whole step & major third apart (2 & 4 semitones apart)
3 lines per octave: major third apart (4 semitones apart)
2 lines per octave: major third apart (4 semitones apart)
2 lines per octave: major third apart (4 semitones apart), compact staff
2 lines per octave: tritone apart (6 semitones apart)
1 line per octave: octave apart (12 semitones apart)
7-5 line pattern

 

 

 

As an educational and informational resource, we seek to present these music notation systems in a fair and even-handed way. Unless otherwise noted, they each meet all of our desirable criteria for alternative music notation systems. If you are the designer of a music notation system, and would like us to consider adding it to our site, see For Notation Designers.

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