See also our FAQ and introduction to chromatic staves.

6-6 and 7-5 Pitch Patterns

A brief introduction to 6-6 and 7-5 pitch patterns as design strategies found in various notations.

Using Notehead 'Color' for Pitch

On the rationale for using solid and hollow noteheads to indicate pitch rather than duration.

Intervals 1: Traditional Notation

An in-depth look at how interval relationships are obscured in traditional music notation.

Intervals 2: 6-6 Notations

Shows how alternative music notations can improve upon traditional notation when it comes to representing interval relationships.

Key Signatures and Accidentals

Considers a passage of music that requires a complex key signature and many accidentals in traditional music notation, and shows how alternative music notations can make it simpler, clearer, and easier to learn.

Enharmonic Equivalents

A more advanced tutorial that compares the representation of enharmonically equivalent notes in traditional notation and on a chromatic staff. Considers the reasons for differentiating between them. Part two (forthcoming) presents various approaches to their representation on a chromatic staff and the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Summary of Numerical Notation Systems

A brief summary of Chapter 5, "Numerical Systems," from Gardner Read's "Source Book of Proposed Music Notation Reforms" (Greenwood Press, 1987).

Related Websites and Publications

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In the future we plan to add more tutorials that address topics such as: rhythm notation systems, complementary instrument and notation design, historical development of traditional music notation, alternative key signatures and accidental systems, microtonal notation, pitch-based and interval-based reading and playing, approaches to continuity with traditional music notation and theory. If you would like to help us create tutorials for this site, please contact us.