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Exploring Alternative Music Notation Systems

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Clairnote SN
by Paul Morris, 2018

Chromatic scale from C to C. C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Clairnote SN has a line pattern similar to Skapski’s Panot, but with “internal” ledger lines for the notes D, F#/Gb, and A#/Bb that “float” between staff lines or between ledger lines that align with the staff lines.  Even when these notes appear beyond the staff lines, their ledger lines always appear between two ledger (or staff) lines, giving them a consistent appearance that differs slightly from the other line notes (C, E, and G#/Ab).  The regular alternation between line and space notes provides a 6-6 line pattern.  Standard rhythm notation and regular oval shaped noteheads are used.  The staff is more vertically compact by allowing the note heads of adjacent pitches to “overlap” to a greater degree than is common on a traditional staff. (This approach is also used in Express Stave.)  On a Clairnote SN staff two notes an octave apart are about 1.3 times as far apart as they are on a traditional staff. (This is less than the 1.714… (12 divided by 7) which is the case for a “standard” chromatic staff.)  Clairnote SN also has a system of alternative accidental signs, key signatures, and clefs.  The “SN” is for “Standard Noteheads” in contrast to Clairnote DN, “Dual Noteheads”.

Earliest documentation: April, 2018

Source: Paul Morris

Website: Clairnote SN Music Notation

Historical notes: Clairnote SN was introduced in April 2018 as a variant of “Clairnote”, and “Clairnote” was renamed to “Clairnote DN” to avoid confusion between the two variants.

Similar Notations: Clairnote DN by Paul Morris, Panot Notation by George Skapski

Manuscript Paper: Discontinuous Staves  Continuous Staves

→ Next Two Notation Systems →

Chromatic scale from C to C in Untitled by Johannes Beyreuther C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Untitled by Johannes Beyreuther

Chromatic scale from C to C in Clairnote DN by Paul Morris C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Clairnote DN by Paul Morris

← Previous Two Notation Systems ←

Chromatic scale from C to C in Untitled by Arnold Schoenberg C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Untitled by Arnold Schoenberg

Chromatic scale from C to C in Panot Notation by George Skapski C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Ab B C

Panot Notation by George Skapski

Notation System Groups

  • Lines a Whole Step Apart, 5 Lines per Octave
  • Lines a Whole Step Apart, 4 or 3 Lines per Octave
  • Lines a Whole Step Apart, 6 Lines per Octave
  • Lines a Whole Step and Major 3rd Apart, 4 per Octave
  • Lines a Minor 3rd Apart, 3 or 4 Lines per Octave
  • Lines a Major 3rd Apart, 3 Lines per Octave
  • Lines a Major 3rd Apart, 2 Lines per Octave
  • Lines a Major 3rd Apart, 2 per Octave, Compact Staff
  • Lines a Tritone Apart, 2 per Octave, or 1 Line per Octave
  • 7-5 Line Pattern, 3, 5, or 6 Lines per Octave
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